​Qaqambile Mdledle
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to convene the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) this Sunday to assess developments in the COVID-19 pandemic, including the emergence of the new variant.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has confirmed that a new COVID-19 variant, B.1.1.529, has been detected in South Africa.
The latest variant was first identified in Botswana on November 11. It has been confirmed in about 100 samples collected in the country.
Although the data is limited, our experts are working overtime with all the established surveillance systems to understand the new variant and what the potential implications could be. Developments are occurring at a rapid pace and the public has our assurance that we will keep them up to date, said NICD in a statement.
The new variant exhibits many mutations, according to researchers, sparking concerns about its transmissibility, severity, and potential vaccine resistance.
Dr Michelle Groome, Head of the Division of Public Health Surveillance and Response at the NICD, assured the public that the situation was being monitored and that the public would be kept up to date. 
"Provincial health authorities remain on high alert and are prioritising the sequencing of positive samples.
"Regardless of the emergence of new Covid-19 variants, the importance of non-pharmaceutical interventions remains unchanged, and the public are urged to be responsible," she said.
Health Minister Joe Phaahla raised concerns over decreasing vaccination figures, adding that COVID-19 mutations could be limited if more people were vaccinated.
"As South Africans, we are only at 41% and the numbers have been reducing. We've been struggling to get 150 000 in a day," the minister said.
Phaahla said it was too early to say whether the government would impose tougher restrictions in response to the variant.