Lockdown regulations ruling creating uncertainty – economist
North West University economist Professor Raymond Parsons says Tuesday’s ruling by the High Court in Pretoria, declaring some of the lockdown regulations invalid, has created a lot of uncertainty.
Judge Norman Davis declared level 4 and 3 of the lockdown regulations unconstitutional and invalid.
He gave Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, in consultation with the relevant ministers, 14 days to review, amend and republish the lockdown regulations.
Parsons says the ruling has created a lot of uncertainty for South African business and consumers.
“Do we go back to level 5 in a fortnight’s time or what will be the situation for all of us in two weeks’ time?”
He adds: "The important fact here is we need an urgent reaction from government as to whether it is going to appeal the decision to the constitutional court in which case we want an early verdict or are they going to redraft the regulations in order to comply with the court order.”
Cabinet has said it will make a further statement once it has fully studied the judgment.
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The application to the Pretoria High court was brought by Reyno de Beer and Liberty Fighters Network, where they argued that the lockdown limited rights contained in the Bill of Rights.
Parsons says the judgment delivered on Tuesday, should be studied as soon as possible.
“I think the uncertainty that has been generated by this court decision needs to be resolved as soon as possible in the interests of everyone,” he adds.