Relax regulations or face backlash, warns DA
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has urged the government to do away with the some of the lockdown regulations.
The party says there is no need for the regulations, which impact on people’s life, but play no meaningful role in combatting the spread of Covid-19.
Interim leader John Steenhuisen says while his organisation supports the lockdown, the country needs regulations that allows essential workers access goods and service, and to reduce mass hunger.
Steenhuisen adds that the success of the lockdown depends on the goodwill of South Africans.
“The amended regulations were an opportunity by the government to rethink some of the measures that have been put in place in the last three weeks and replace them with some common sense rules.
“It’s an opportunity that they have now missed and the danger is that they will squander the initial goodwill and support for the lockdown compliance.”
He believes the blanket ban on the sale cigarettes and alcohol has more to do with the state wanting to stamp its authority than it wanting to avert the spread of the virus.
“The longer these prohibitions remain part of the lockdown regulations, the bigger the chance of a public backlash.
“Every regulation must be measured against it advocacy in actually defeating Covid-19.”
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