Non-Profit Organisation, Dear SA, has provided reasons behind its opposition to government’s extension of the National State of Disaster, saying there is evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic no longer exists.
Government says there are still measures needed to be implemented before ending the State of Disaster.
Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has confirmed the extension to the 15th of next month.
Dear SA’s Director is Gideon Joubert says South Africa is no longer in a pandemic.
“The reasons are very simple. It is because the reasons that give rise to the State of Disaster no longer exist. We are no longer in a pandemic, as we have seen decisions made by other countries, and we do have effective measures to deal with COVID-19 already in our toolbox. Also, in the event of a pandemic, government has the power to reinstitute a State of Disaster with the correct oversight. The reason given by the Cogta Minister is because she needs time to amend laws and regulations. That does confirm, rationally, that we are no longer in an actual disaster,” says Joubert.
Video: Two years of the national state of disaster in SA: Dr Lesley Bamford
Tuesday marked two years since the announcement of the National State of Disaster to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19).
Two years of the national state of disaster in SA: Dr Lesley Bamford
President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his State of the Nation last month that he intended to end the National State of Disaster after finalising all measures under the National Health Act to manage the pandemic.
Earlier, health experts added their voices to calls for government to scrap the National State of Disaster.
They say the remaining restrictions and regulations no longer serve any purpose and that the country needs to move to a phase of learning to live with the virus.
Professor of Vaccinology at Wits University, Shabir Madhi says the remaining restrictions and regulations no longer serve any purpose and should be lifted.
Prof Madhi says the country needs to move to a phase of learning to live with the virus.
“Unfortunately, when it comes to wearing of masks, it hasn’t assisted us in keeping sown infection. Again to emphasize, these things might have been required at a point in time when we didn’t have extensive number of people, and now we sit at 80-85% that have developed protection against severe disease and death,” says Madhi.
