President Cyril Ramaphosa has led a candlelight ceremony in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, on Thursday evening. The Candles of Hope for South Africa ceremony is to honour frontline staff, health care workers and those who died due to COVID-19 related complications.
Ramaphosa visited the Khayelitsha District Hospital, saying he wants to see first-hand the impact of alcohol restrictions on the hospital’s Emergency Care Unit.
The President pays tribute to frontline workers. “It has been a difficult year for all of us here in South Africa. We could not think of a better moment to spend than here with people who have put their lives on the line, who have been the true frontline workers, who have been willing to sacrifice everything so that they can save the lives of many other people.”
He adds, “Tonight we light a candle in recognition of the contribution made by our frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19. We light a candle to mourn the lives that have been lost in the fight against this pandemic. We light a candle as a symbol of hope for the way forward.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa candle lighting commemoration for COVID-19 victims:
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and Western cape health MEC Nomafrench Mbombo were in attendance.
#COVID19 | President @CyrilRamaphosa at Khayelitsha Hospital in Cape Town, Western Cape, for a Candlelight Ceremony in honour of frontline workers helping to fight the #coronavirus pandemic. #StaySafe pic.twitter.com/Pum899GIdq
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) December 31, 2020
A similar ceremony of candlelights was held on the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. City’s Mayor Geoffrey Makhubo lit a candle of hope in memory of the nearly 2 000 residents who have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
A prayer for the departed due to COVID19 ,Nelson Mandela Bridge #joburgcares #WeServeJoburg ^NB pic.twitter.com/ZFWcBp7swu
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) December 31, 2020
In KwaZulu-Natal, Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize and KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala together with the KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu led a candle lighting ceremony at King Edward Hospital in Durban.
Health Minister @DrZweliMkhize and KZN Premier Hon. Sihle Zikalala @sziks together with the @kznhealth Hon Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu led a candle lighting ceremony at King Edward Hospital in Durban. #GrowingKZNTogether #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/N2qiHZ91Gc
— KZN Provincial Gov (@kzngov) December 31, 2020