The IFP welcomes with caution government’s decision to move the country into lockdown alert level 2, following the address this evening by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
We welcome this decision taken by the Cabinet with great caution, noting that the threat of this virus is not over. The risks remain; and therefore, all efforts must be made to avoid complacency.
The lockdown was not a permanent arrangement and was for the purposes of readying our health services. We therefore want to ensure that the easing of the lockdown is met with the best preparatory requirements by the health system and that we will be ready for a second wave – as with the cases we have observed internationally.
We are supportive of the phased approach that government is taking, coupled with the strictest health precautionary measures for industries to save lives while balancing the risk mitigation factors.
As our current infection rate stands at close to 600 0000 people who are infected by Covid-19, we urge government to strengthen response times and to exercise greater vigilance over the next few months.
The one-month extension of the National State of Disaster, as gazetted by the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, is welcomed, while government finds its feet to legislate for the next period as we fight the further spread of Covid-19.
Furthermore, the IFP notes the trials of vaccines that are currently taking place, and we wish the scientific community well as they work swiftly around the clock to save lives.
We once again urge all South Africans to practice social and physical distancing, and to always adhere to the lockdown regulations.
We also offer our sincere condolences to all bereaved families who have lost loved ones, friends and family during this time.
The IFP salutes all frontline workers who have been affected and those who continue to sacrifice their time, energy and lives in the work of saving fellow South Africans.
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Contact:
Mkhuleko Hlengwa, MP
IFP National Spokesperson
071 111 0539