Malema warns against 'reckless' reopening of economy

Malema issued the warning in his Freedom Day message, stating that compensation of R5 million should be paid if an employee dies as a result of a company opening its doors.

"Each and every company that reopens must be directly held accountable for the health and safety of the workers," he said.

"We, as the EFF, will make sure that no life is lost due to rushed and senseless reopening of the economy.

"Our submission is that each worker who contracts the disease due to premature and senseless reopening, that company should pay a fine of R5 million to the family of the deceased."

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South Africa is set to move to level four of the revised regulations which will see around 1.5 million people return to work.

This comes in spite of a steady increase in new coronavirus infections and deaths across the country.

On Sunday, the number of confirmed cases stood at 4546, with 87 deaths.

Malema warned that the government and the private sector will have to take responsibility for "murder and attempted genocide".

"Cyril Rampahosa and all those that are rushing into premature reopening must know that they will have blood in their hands if our people die as a result of their premature and reckless and senseless reopening of the economy."