The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel, has tested positive for Covid-19 after receiving his test results on July 25, 2020. The Minister is in self-quarantine and working from home, and those who have been in contact with him have been encouraged to self-isolate and get tested. While wishing the Minister a speedy recovery, the statement also extends well-wishes to the thousands of other South Africans battling the coronavirus. It reminds citizens to continue practicing preventative measures like hand washing, wearing masks, and physical distancing to defeat the virus.

1. MEDIA STATEMENT
TO ALL MEDIA/NEWS EDITORS
SATURDAY 25 JULY 2020
MINISTER PATEL TESTS POSITIVEFORCOVID19
The Ministerof Trade, IndustryandCompetition,MrEbrahimPatel (MP),has testedpositive forCovid-
19. The Ministerreceivedhisresults today,25 July2020.
Thiswas the Minister’ssecondtesttobe conductedsince the outbreakof thisvirus.
MinisterPatel isingoodspiritsandis inself-quarantine,andwill continue toworkfromhome.Those
that have beenincontact withthe Minister are alsoinself-isolationandhave beenencouragedtoget
tested.
MinisterPatel hadyesterday,24July2020, participatedinthe virtual parliamentarybudgetvote debate
on the revisedbudgetforthe Departmentof Trade,IndustryandCompetition.
The MinisterremainscommittedtopreparingSouthAfricaforthe post-covidworld,strengthening
effortsaroundreconstructionandrecovery.Asparthisbudgetdebate speechyesterday,the Minister
announcedthateverydirectorate of the DTICand everyagency withinitsmandate willprioritisesaving
firmsand jobsduringthisperiod.
As we wishthe Ministeraspeedyrecovery,we extendthe same well wishestothe thousandsof South
Africansandtheirfamilieswhoare alsobattlingcoronavirus.

2. To defeatthis virus,we mustall continue playingourpartin observingall healthprotocolsof washing
our handsregularly,properlywearingamaskwheninpublicandpracticingphysical distancing.
Together,we canbeat the coronavirus.
Mediaenquiries:
Ms PhumlaWilliams–CabinetSpokesperson
Contact: 083 501 0139
Issuedbythe Ministerinthe Presidencyof the Republicof SouthAfrica