DA’s Steenhuisen Warns A Longer Lockdown Will Create Economic Disaster

DA Leader John Steenhuisen says the Democratic Alliance 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.”

Steenhuisen’s statement follows President Ramaphosa’s announcement that South Africa’s lockdown will be extended to the end of April.

The Democratic Alliance leader argues that this is not a “binary choice” between health concerns and economic concerns, as justified by the South African president.

Steenhuisen says: “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 DA leader says his party has been working tirelessly with industry experts, international best practice models, and health policy specialists to compile a lockdown grid which outlines various levels of regulation applicable to different stages of coronavirus infection in South Africa.

“This will allow the lockdown to be sustained while ensuring that the South African economy does not collapse in the process. It will also assist in keeping the economy moving, protecting jobs and livelihoods whilst ensuring that we continue to contain the virus,” says Steenhuisen.

The model will be finalised with the DA’s Shadow Cabinet today (Friday), and thereafter submitted to President Ramaphosa for consideration.

In the meantime, the DA suggests the following essential amendments:

• Urgent relaxation on essential goods listings
• Coronavirus testing must be ramped up
• BBBEE requirements must be scrapped for SMME aid
• The national budget must be readjusted to fund relief efforts
• The Public Wage Bill must be amended to fund relief efforts
• Parliamentary oversight over the lockdown is essential

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