S. African president defends national lockdown against COVID-19 amid growing defiance

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday defended the 21-day national lockdown against the coronavirus pandemic which began on midnight Thursday, saying it is "absolutely necessary."

"This is an extreme measure we had to embark upon in response to the COVID-19 pandemic," the president said in a televised speech to the nation.

He said that the number of infections continues to grow in the country and that 1,326 people have tested positive for the virus, with 3 deaths, up to date.

"That is why we took the radical step of locking down the country for 21 days," he said.

The quarantine has disrupted people's lives, he said, "but we all know and agree that this nationwide lockdown is absolutely necessary to save the lives of thousands, even tens of thousands, of our people."

(CGTN)