By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Federal council chair Helen Zille wants the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) to be “dismantled”.
“There is a great risk of it being at the apex of an undemocratic hierarchy of control that bypasses our democratic institutions,” said Zille in a Twitter thread.
The creation, role and functioning of the NCCC was established on 15 March 2020.
“On that day, the Cabinet took a decision to create it as a structure of the Cabinet that would devote itself exclusively to dealing with the pandemic. At that stage, it was made up of 19 members of the Cabinet and was chaired by the president.
“The ministers who first comprised the NCCC were chosen on the basis of the anticipated important roles that their departments would play in dealing with the pandemic.”
The NCCC provided a high-level, multidisciplinary forum for ministers “to obtain the buy-in, advice and support of their fellow Cabinet members for decisions they need to take, and it gives Cabinet the opportunity to ensure consensus positions are being adopted”.
2/5 The Corona Command Council, which is at the apex of a totally unaccountable command system, needs to be dismantled. There is a great risk of it being at the apex of an undemocratic hierarchy of control that by-passes our democratic institutions.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) December 28, 2021
4/5 The solution to their dysfunction is for voters to remove incompetence through the ballot box. That is the essence of public accountability in a democracy, not increasing centralised control — which, in any case, is not any more competent than what it seeks to replace.
— Helen Zille (@helenzille) December 28, 2021
Zille claims that the NCCC is being used as a means to “control” the country and circumvent South Africa’s democratic institutions.
She also called for all lockdown restrictions to be lifted.
“In 2022 we need to get back our lives and rebuild our economy, despite Covid. Those who want to be vaxxed, wear masks, stay home, etc, should be free to. For the rest, all restrictions need to be lifted, and particularly the draconian provisions of the Disaster Management Act,”Zille tweeted.
Zille added that the damage being done to South Africa’s economy is far worse than the effects of the Omicron variant which is currently dominant in the country.
On Monday, DA leader John Steenhuisen called for President Cyril Ramaphosa to support the economy and end curfew before New Year’s Eve.