Presidency welcomes Rev Kenneth Meshoe’s submission to Covid-19 test

22 March 2020

The Presidency welcomes the announcement by the Rev Kenneth Meshoe, leader of the African Christian Democratic Party, that he has been tested for the coronavirus, COVID-19.

Rev Meshoe was among leaders of political parties represented in Parliament who met President Ramaphosa in Cape Town on Tuesday, 17 March 2020.

Rev Meshoe has since confirmed publicly that in the days before the meeting with the President and therefore before the prohibition of public gatherings numbering more than 100 people, he had participated in a religious gathering in the Free State where five international guests subsequently tested positive for the virus.

Rev Meshoe, who has been asymptomatic since his participation in that gathering of approximately 200 people, announced on social media this afternoon, Sunday 22 March 2020, that he had been tested.

The Presidency welcomes Rev Meshoe’s adherence to the testing protocol and wishes him well as he awaits his results.

The President himself is in good health and is observing the announced protocols as stringently as he can while performing his duties.

At this point in time there is no cause for concern about the President’s health or reason for the President to be tested. To the best of the President’s knowledge, no person with whom he has recently had contact - including Rev Meshoe - has symptoms of or tested positive for the virus.

Issued by Khusela Diko, Spokesperson to the President, 22 March 2020