Western Cape Premier Welcomes Masks, Opposes Tourism Ban

While the compulsory wearing of masks announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa last night was welcomed by Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, he said the province strongly opposed the continued ban on leisure tourism.

Winde, who himself is in self-quarantine after being diagnosed positive for COVID-19 last week, said that since the start of the lockdown the Western Cape has supported “common-sense regulations, based on scientific reasoning.”

The provincial government’s policy has been transparency and science-driven: “We must save lives now, but also save lives in the future too. We must slow the spread, and ready our health-systems, but we must do it in a way that still allows for safe economic activity that will help put food on the table for our residents.”

In response to several of the main points made by Ramaphosa last night, the wearing of masks, the banning once again of alcohol sales, and the continued ban on tourism, Winde said:

“The tourism sector, which employs over 200,000 people in the Western Cape (direct and indirect) has been dealt a severe blow, without proper scientific evidence or reasoning to support it being excluded. Leisure tourism accommodation that can open safely, following proper safety protocols, should be allowed to do so.”

“We welcome the stricter regulations around mask wearing announced by the President. Our own behavioral science research and medical advice is that mask-wearing remains one of the most effective measures in slowing the spread of the virus.”

As for the alcohol ban, that might be a good short-term solution to free up hospital beds, but it is also going to have a devastating effect on the industry. The country needs to change the way people consume alcohol.

“The Western Cape Government has already initiated a project to consider long-term behaviour change, and we would like this to be a pilot for the country. I will be raising this proposal with the President during our next engagement.”