By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday confirmed that tighter restrictions were on the cards as SA enters its third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ramaphosa, who was delivering a virtual address at the ANC’s ninth Northern Cape provincial conference, is expected to address the nation on how the government intends to manage the pandemic as the winter season gets into full swing.
“Indications are that our country is entering the third wave as the Covid-19 infections are just going up and we must do everything in our power to mitigate this. We once again have to remind South Africans to be vigilant and protect themselves and each other,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa also expressed concern over the rising number of infections in the Northern Cape saying the province has shown the highest infections per capita in the country at nearly 34 to 100, followed by the Free State with nearly 15 per 100 infections.
These provinces have seen a spike in infections during the last few weeks and hospital admissions tell us that the infection rate is high as admissions have been rising considerably. It has been reported that the provinces’ ICU capacity is under a great deal of stress.”
As the country enters its third week of the government’s phase 2 vaccination programme, targeting those over the age of 60, there are fears that tighter restrictions may lead to further job losses, curfews and the banning of alcohol.
Ramaphosa said the recent stoppage of the sale of alcohol had revealed that SA has a “complicated, possibly unhealthy” relationship with alcohol.
“We need to have more in-depth research and a comprehensive national discussion about this matter and our aim, and I urge you to have regard to this during your policy discussions.
“How can we address this alcohol challenge? It is huge, we are reputed to be possibly number three in alcohol-consuming countries. Alcohol also leads to gender-based violence which continues to plague our communities.”
He also lambasted those who misappropriated Covid-19 funds for their own benefit.
“There are some unscrupulous and inhumane individuals who used Covid-19 to steal from the people, law enforcement will continue to deal with these.”
Ramaphosa pleaded with South Africans to continue with none pharmaceutical interventions of wearing masks, social distancing, washing and sanitising of hands.
The national coronavirus command council, a body set up in 2020 to co-ordinate the government’s response as the pandemic reached SA, met on Thursday.
This comes amid a rise in infections and an increasing death toll for SA, the hardest-hit country in Africa.
Meanwhile Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said in a statement the cumulative number of Covid-19 cases identified in South Africa is 1 659 070, with 4 515 new cases reported.
Mkhize said a further 70 deaths have been reported which brings the total to 56 363 deaths and the cumulative recoveries now stand at 1 554 184 representing a recovery rate of 93, 7%.