Khayelitsha becomes the first township in the Western Cape to confirm a COVID-19 case

Updated: 3 May 2020

On 29 March 2020, Khayelitsha township in Cape Town, Western Cape was the first township to confirm positive case of Covid- 19 virus. The Western Cape province was the second province in the number of infected cases lead by Gauteng province. Premier of the Western Cape Alan Winde’s confirmed more than 300 covid-19 positive cases in the province. This was an indication that this corona virus was spreading rapidly within the different communities of the country. According to Winde’s spokesperson, Bianca Capazorio the response team was sent to informal settlements to make sure that necessary actions were taken to prevent the spread of the virus.

How we know this

01Jele, N.(2020), First coronavirus case in Khayelitsha as Western Cape tally climbs to 310, From News24 (online),Available at https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/first-coronavirus-case-in-khayelitsha-as-western-cape-tally-climbs-to-310-20200329 [Accessed: 24 April 2020]. Isaacs, L.,(2020), Khayelitsha becomes first W Cape township to confirm COVID-19 case, From Cape Talk (online),Available at https://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/379218/khayelitsha-becomes-first-w-cape-township-to-confirm-covid-19-case [Accessed: 24 April 2020]. Ruvic, D.(2020), Khayelitsha first township in WC to report COVID-19 case, From ENCA (online), Available at https://www.enca.com/news/khayelitsha-first-township-wc-report-covid-19-case [Accessed:24 April 2020].

Last updated · 3 May 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2020, May 3). Khayelitsha becomes the first township in the Western Cape to confirm a COVID-19 case. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0150202

South African History Online (2020) 'Khayelitsha becomes the first township in the Western Cape to confirm a COVID-19 case', South African History Online, 3 May. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0150202 (Accessed: 7 October 2026).

South African History Online, Khayelitsha becomes the first township in the Western Cape to confirm a COVID-19 case [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0150202, (accessed 7 October 2026).

"Khayelitsha becomes the first township in the Western Cape to confirm a COVID-19 case." South African History Online, 3 May 2020, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0150202. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "Khayelitsha becomes the first township in the Western Cape to confirm a COVID-19 case." South African History Online. May 3, 2020. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0150202.