South Africa's confirmed Covid-19 cases increased by 93 and was at 1280 on Sunday, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said.

Mkhize said a 74-year-old man who tested positive for Covid-19 and who had been in ICU on ventilation in Ladysmith, Free State, died.

"It is with sadness that we announce the second death of a patient who had tested positive for Covid-19. The 74-year-old male had been in ICU and ventilation in a private hospital in Ladysmith. He had travelled to Kruger National Park with his family and came back with flu like symptoms," Mkhize said in a statement. 

"He was confirmed to be Covid-19 positive on the 27th March 2020. It has been reported to us that the deceased patient had an underlying skin cancer condition (melanoma), which had already complicated. He presented with the following symptoms: respiratory distress, shortness of breath, cardiac failure, decreased saturation and his temperature was above 38 degrees."

Mkhize said the man's family, 14 health workers, including three specialist doctors, who were in contact with him were now in quarantine and were being monitored. 

"We express our condolences to the family and we thank the doctors and health workers who looked after the deceased patient until his time of passing," said Mkhize

On Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a nationwide 21-day lockdown from midnight on Thursday until midnight on April 16. In an address broadcast live on television, Ramaphosa said all people in South Africa would be compelled to stay at home, save for essential services such as health workers in the public and private sectors, emergency personnel and those in security services such as the police, traffic officers, military medical personnel and soldiers.