SA Govt Refutes Social Media Rumors that President Ramaphosa Asked Foreign National to Leave

An Official in the South African president’s office has dismissed as fake news, information suggesting that President Ramaphosa has asked foreign nationals to leave the country.

A message circulating on WhatsApp claimed that the president had asked foreign nationals to leave by the 21st of June, and cited an increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases as the reason.

It also said that the Lockdown period was being extended by 3 months. Jackson Mthembu, Minister in the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa, took to Twitter to dismiss the fake news:

FAKE NEWS ALERT !!! President @CyrilRamaphosa has NOT asked foreign nationals to leave South Africa. The President has NOT said the #lockdown will be extended by the “ government of South Africa “ by three months, starting on 21 June . “. The WhatsApp post below is fake news.