Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, has tested positive for COVID 19 and is currently in self-isolation, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) announced on Wednesday. The department said the minister remains in good spirits and urged people who have recently been in contact with him to take precautionary measures.
In a brief media statement issued by the department, officials confirmed that Tau had contracted the virus and would temporarily withdraw from public engagements while recovering.
“Minister Tau is in good spirits and is currently in self isolation,” departmental spokesperson Kaamil Alli said in the statement. He added that the minister encouraged anyone who had recently been in contact with him to get tested and exercise precautionary measures.
The announcement comes at a time when South Africa has largely returned to normal social and economic activity following the end of the national State of Disaster and the lifting of most pandemic-related restrictions. Although COVID 19 no longer dominates public life as it did during the height of the pandemic, health authorities continue to monitor infections and encourage individuals experiencing symptoms to seek testing and medical advice.
Tau’s diagnosis is expected to prevent him from participating in some scheduled official engagements, including a bilateral South Africa Kenya business forum in Gauteng.
COVID 19 first reached South Africa in March 2020, prompting one of the world’s strictest lockdowns. Then, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a nationwide lockdown that restricted movement, prohibited most economic activity, and limited public gatherings in an effort to curb the spread of the virus. Schools, churches, entertainment venues and many businesses were temporarily closed, while international travel was heavily restricted.
The pandemic placed enormous pressure on South Africa’s healthcare system and economy. Thousands of businesses struggled to survive extended restrictions, unemployment increased, and millions of South Africans relied on emergency social relief measures introduced by government. At the same time, healthcare workers faced successive waves of infections, including those driven by the Beta, Delta and Omicron variants.
South Africa later became one of Africa’s leading countries in COVID 19 vaccination efforts, rolling out vaccines through public and private healthcare facilities. By 2022, declining hospitalisations and growing population immunity enabled the government to end the national State of Disaster and remove most remaining restrictions.
While COVID 19 is now treated more like an endemic respiratory illness, sporadic infections continue to occur, particularly during seasonal peaks. Public health experts maintain that vaccination, good hygiene practices and staying home when ill remain important tools for reducing transmission.
The dtic did not provide details about where or how the minister may have contracted the virus, nor did it indicate how long he is expected to remain in isolation. The department said it would provide updates if necessary.
For now, officials say the minister is recovering and continues to monitor his health while following recommended isolation protocols.