DA to approach courts on ‘arbitrary’ lockdown regulations
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has vowed to approach the High Court to challenge the government’s lockdown regulations.
The DA says the government's approach to gradually re-open the economy is “blunt and restrictive” with no justification for many of the arbitrary rules and restrictions.
Interim leader John Steenhuisen says the lockdown is proving more detrimental for people’s livelihoods than intended.
“We have seen announcements from ministers on keeping sectors of the economy shut that have nothing to do with halting the spread of the virus. Petty, irrational announcements, like the ban on all e-commerce.
“We have seen the outrageous announcements from the small business development minister and tourism minister that they intend to exclude some South Africans, on the basis of their race and other arbitrary criteria, from government’s emergency relief measures.”
He adds: “We have also instructed our lawyers to take this matter to the High Court, because it is unconscionable that government would play identity politics in a time of crisis.”
DA leader John Steenhuisen tells President Cyril Ramaphosa to 'come to his senses', calling the lockdown a 'tragic mistake'. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/oxXlxL745n
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) May 8, 2020
The DA has already also written a petition to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) asking it to oppose the use of BBBEE as a requirement for Covid-19 relief funds.
“And we will fulfill our duty, as official opposition, of guarding against the abuse of power,” says Steenhuisen.
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Steenhuisen says the government's approach to gradually re-open the economy is "irrational" and with no justification for many of the arbitrary rules and restrictions. Steenhuisen says the lockdown has been nothing but a tragedy. "In our efforts to fight off a very real threat, we have replaced it with an even bigger threat of our own making.