Nomaindiya Cathleen Mfeketo began her tenure as South Africa’s ambassador to the United States in March of 2020 as COVID-19 was beginning to spread rapidly around the world. As a result, the main focus of her agenda thus far has been on combating the coronavirus pandemic and its detrimental effects. South Africa imposed lockdowns and regulations signaling the start of the pandemic during the week immediately after Mfeketo left for the embassy in Washington D.C.