South Africa goes into lockdown as coronavirus cases exceed 1,000

Coronavirus cases in South Africa crossed 1,000 on Friday, just hours after the country went into a 21-day lockdown.

It also reported its first two deaths from the virus. "This morning, we South Africans wake up with sad news that we now have our first deaths resulting from COVID-19," the health ministry said in a statement.

Security forces were seen monitoring the streets as people were confined to their homes as part of efforts to stem the spread of the virus.

"I send you out to go and defend our people against coronavirus," President Cyril Ramaphosa told soldiers ahead of their deployment. 

"This is unprecedented, not only in our democracy but also in the history of our country, that we will have a lockdown for 21 days to go out and wage war against an invisible enemy, coronavirus."