THE meaning of the word perception is described as ‘the way in which something is regarded, understood or interpreted’.
Perception is therefore not necessarily fact, but rather an assumption after certain information – often not verified – is interpreted.
But in the public mind, perception equals truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Government should take heed of this notion and not act surprised about the many perceptions sold as truth – especially on social media platforms.
While few would criticise the basic regulations our commander and chief and his council of unwise advisors introduced to curb the spread of Covid-19 mask-wearing, social distancing, sanitation measures and initially locking down businesses and people movement – it is the side issues that simply don’t make sense as far as the public is concerned.
One should not waste time discussing the follies of self-proclaimed fashionista, Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel.
His ridiculous garment directives wasn’t a lack of common sense, rather a moment of lunacy.
The tobacco ban is another story.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s argument about smoking being a major factor in spreading the virus is pure fiction.
Yes, sharing cigarettes does pose a transmission avenue as she pointed out, but it is minuscule in the grand scheme of things.
Common sense surely dictates that depriving nicotine addicts of their fix will actually promote ciggie and zol sharing?
Preventing smokers from puffing away for health reasons amid the pandemic won’t make one iota of a difference.
Long-time smokers’ blackened lungs cannot be turned into driven snow in a few months and change their health status.
And here is a fact. Not one of the many smokers I know has kicked the habit.
The cigarettes may be off the shelves, but the black market is thriving and the billions of lost revenue to our economy instead go to the pockets of the cross-border operators.
The public perception of the relentless tobacco ban is that government structures are involved and coining it.
An assumption – in the absence of a logical explanation and a full-scale probe into why little is being done to block the tsunami of cigarettes flooding into the country.
Even the token arrests of some smugglers raise some disturbing questions. What happens to the confiscated contraband?
Perhaps the answer lies in the known fact that some police stations are cigarette and booze ban spaza shops.
The total booze ban is another case in point.
Again, one buys into the argument of hospital beds being occupied by victims of alcohol-related incidents at the expense of Covid-19.
But let’s be sensible about it. Restaurant patrons are by and large responsible drinkers and eateries are not allowed to sell booze takeaways anyway.
People who buy hooch for home consumption do not flood hospitals.
By all means, close the establishments where the selling of booze is the prime objective and drunken parties and brawls abound, but surely there is a more logical way this issue can be managed to protect the thousands of jobs now being threatened – and the economy suffering as a result.
Doesn’t a blanket ban suggest a lack of common sense? Just wondering.
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