We would prefer a gradual phasing out of the current lockdown over the coming weeks as opposed to a continuation of the severe and economically-crippling regulations we currently see. – @jsteenhuisen https://t.co/eCJPZb51L3#CyrilRamaphosa
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) April 9, 2020
“We would prefer a gradual phasing out of the current lockdown over the coming weeks as opposed to a continuation of the severe and economically-crippling regulations we currently see.
“We believe it is a great mistake to think in terms of lives versus livelihoods. This is a false dilemma. Rather, the difficult trade-offs to be made are between lives lost or damaged by Covid-19, and lives lost or damaged by the drastic measures to contain its spread.
“We need to understand that we have limited resources and that we need to make difficult decisions taking into account both seen and unseen costs. This is the role of government: to make tough choices for the greater good for the greater number, while not forgetting that behind every statistic is a human story.
“Each death resulting from the virus is a tragedy. But so is each death resulting from caged citizens and frustrated law enforcers, and so is each victim of home violence. And each malnourished child. And each newly unemployed South African.
“The absence of empirical data and modelling make it very difficult to simply agree that a lockdown extension may be an effective means to curb the spread of Covid-19. The resulting economic fallout now means that it is not only lives which are threatened by the virus, but livelihoods by our economic and financial collapse as a result of further lockdown regulations.
“Decisions made at this level, and which have such dire repercussions on the economic wellbeing of South Africa, must be rooted in scientific research, and pragmatic policy positions. It is essential therefore that government clearly shares with South Africans accurate data, as well as the exact empirical metrics that success, or otherwise, will be measured against, and that will determine the end of the lockdown period. This is the only way we can ensure that once the lockdown is lifted, South Africans still have jobs to return to.”
The DA said it had been working tirelessly with industry experts, international best practice models, and health policy specialists to compile a lockdown grid that outlined various levels of regulation applicable to different stages of coronavirus infection in South Africa. This would allow the lockdown to be sustained while ensuring that the South African economy did not collapse in the process. It would also assist in keeping the economy moving, protecting jobs and livelihoods while ensuring that the country continued to contain the virus.
“We will be finalising this model with our Shadow Cabinet tomorrow, following which we will submit it to the president for consideration. There is no binary choice between a loss of life to coronavirus and a loss of life to the poverty which faces hundreds of thousands of South Africans who may no longer have a job to return to or an income in their households should the lockdown be extended.”
Steenhuisen made a list of the changes he wants to see over the next two weeks:
Expand “essential goods” list: The banning of the trade of certain goods such as clothing, and other items must be relaxed.
Increase testing: A comprehensive system of testing, tracking, and tracing must be put into place.
Abandon BEE requirements for financial aid: The racial makeup of a business “should not affect its eligibility for financial rescue”.
Readjust the budget: The amounts set aside in the current budget to fund SOE bailouts, such as the R16,4 Billion for SAA, “must be repurposed”.
Cut the public wage bill: Government salaries must reflect the struggles we all face
Increase Parliamentary oversight: It’s important that Parliament finds a way to meet remotely.
