Johannesburg — The South African government's response to the unprecedented global health challenge of COVID-19 should fully respect the rights and dignity of everyone in the country.
With 1,655 confirmed cases as of April 6, 2020, the highest so far in Africa, the authorities have taken steps to limit and prevent the spread of COVID-19, including the 21-day nationwide lockdown declared by President Cyril Ramaphosa on March 23. The authorities deployed 24,389 security forces, including the army and police, to enforce regulations prohibiting people from leaving their homes except for essential purposes. Within the first seven days, security forces arrested more than 2,000 people for allegedly flouting the regulations, and domestic violence has skyrocketed.
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