‘Where we make mistakes, we will continue to correct them’, vows Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged that government has made mistakes during the implementation of the national lockdown, but vowed to be as transparent as possible.
Ramaphosa addressed the nation from the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday evening.
The president announced that consultations will get underway to move much of the country to level 3 of the lockdown regulations at the end of May.
Ramaphosa acknowledged that the government has asked a lot from South Africans.
"Over the last 7 weeks, you have been asked to endure much and to sacrifice much.
“On more than one occasion, I have stood before you and asked you to accept stringent restrictions on your daily lives, knowing that these will bring great hardship.
"You have heeded these calls, firmly convinced that these measures are necessary for the health and the well-being – indeed the survival – of our young nation," he added.
Ramaphosa admited that there were times that government had fallen short.
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"And that is why we must acknowledge that as we have confronted this unprecedented challenge, there may have been times when we have fallen short of your expectations,” he said.
"Some of the actions we have taken have been unclear, some have been contradictory and some have been poorly explained.
"Implementation has sometimes been slow and enforcement has sometimes been inconsistent and too harsh.”
Ramaphosa promised to ensure that in future all government decisions are taken in good faith.
"To be transparent, to take the nation into confidence and to do so regularly, to continue to be forthright on the state of the pandemic.
"You want to know when things are bad, and be told when they could get worse, to continue to engage and consult with you.
"Where we have disappointed, we will continue to make amends. Where we make mistakes, we will continue to correct them."