President Cyril Ramaphosa has commended the National Institute for Communicable Diseases for its work following confirmation of the first coronavirus case and called on South Africans "not to panic".
Speaking to the media on Thursday he said the "swift announcement" by Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize in Parliament, was particularly important to keep fake news at bay.
"We would like to applaud the capability of the NICD having acted quickly and swiftly and also having informed the Minister who immediately informed me," Ramaphosa said.
He said that he gave the Minister the go-ahead to make the announcement so that South Africans were immediately informed so as to "avoid fake news spreading around the country and also to have a level of transparency about this virus that is spreading around the world."
President Ramaphosa said the key question is whether the country is ready and prepared to deal with an outbreak.
"We are gearing up more and more as a country and the report I received from the Minister of Health has demonstrated to me that we can be more alert".
The President said South Africans should feel assured that the government will demonstrate its seriousness in dealing with this matter and will continue to be transparent.
"At the same time we want South Africans, not to panic," he said.
