Coronavirus lockdown in SA: Mzansi has questions about 'midnight'

25 March 2020 - 09:58 By Cebelihle Bhengu

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Soldiers in Johannesburg on Monday afternoon. The SANDF will assist SAPS to implement the lockdown.
Image: Sebabatso Mosamo

The hashtag #Thursdaymidnight is trending on Twitter as many grapple with when the national lockdown will come into effect.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Monday that SA would be on national lockdown which will take effect on Thursday, March 26 at midnight. Thursday midnight will be at 00:00. This means Friday, March 27 is the first day of for the shutdown.

SA has 709 cases of Covid-19.

Just to be clear, Thursday midnight means the end of Thursday right not the end of Wednesday? #lockdown?
— #JohnCena (@ShoMadjozi) March 23, 2020

Thursday midnight meaning 00:00 Friday morning or Thursday morning 00:00?

Ay English.
— Harper (@WayneH__) March 23, 2020

Everyone trying to figure out what “Thursday midnight” means pic.twitter.com/rhlVcEALCc
— ⚡️Gabriela⚡️ (@Gr8_Gatsbriela) March 23, 2020

What is Thursday midnight? Thursday 00:00 or Friday 00:00? pic.twitter.com/MSfmcsFoV5
— DIAMOND.IN.THE.ROUGH (@_senz_y) March 23, 2020

Mr President should have just said Thursday or Friday and leave midnight out of this, phela thina we attended Qalakahle Primary School. 😂 pic.twitter.com/Pq39flKVqG
— General (@SbuXulu_Donda) March 24, 2020

When this whole pandemic blows over can we please discuss how the whole country was confused about the meaning of Thursday midnight asking if it's the end of Wednesday or beginning of Friday🤣🤣🤣💀💀💀💀 pic.twitter.com/Xrf1pXYuyl
— Alpha B👑💎 (@Green_Greenly) March 24, 2020

I'm tired of pretending like I know what is Thursday midnight.
Is it the start of Thursday 00:00 or end of Thursday 23:59? 😕
— Malum Sizwe 🇿🇦 (@LordSizwe) March 24, 2020