Meshoe had participated in a religious gathering in the Free State where five international guests subsequently tested positive for the virus. The opposition is still awaiting his test results. 

An investigation by OFM News last week found that a prayer gathering was attended by overseas guests from Texas in the United States and Israel. OFM News reported on Friday that this event drew about 200 people. The church gathering was also led by a well-known South African writer and evangelist, Angus Buchan, and attended by a Member of National Parliament, Kevin Meshoe. When OFM News then contacted Meshoe, he was not yet aware that he has been in contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19.

“Rev. Meshoe was among leaders of political parties represented in Parliament who met President [Cyril] Ramaphosa in Cape Town on Tuesday. Rev. Meshoe has since confirmed publicly that in the days before the meeting with the President and therefore before the prohibition of public gatherings numbering more than 100 people, he had participated in a religious gathering in the Free State where five international guests subsequently tested positive for the virus,” the Presidency said in a statement on Sunday evening.

The Presidency said the ACDP leader has been asymptomatic since his participation in the Free State gathering of approximately 200 people. 

“The Presidency welcomes Rev. Meshoe’s adherence to the testing protocol and wishes him well as he awaits his results. The President himself is in good health and is observing the announced protocols as stringently as he can while performing his duties,” said the Presidency.

“At this point in time there is no cause for concern about the president’s health or reason for the president to be tested. To the best of the president’s knowledge, no person with whom he has recently had contact - including Rev. Meshoe - has symptoms of or tested positive for the virus.” 

Ramaphosa has declared Covid-19 a national emergency and prohibited gatherings of more than 100 people. 

African News Agency