As the nationwide lockdown continues, South Africans waited in anticipation on Wednesday evening, May 13. Each person eager to hear President Cyril Ramaphosa’s statement on South Africa’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Beginning his address, Ramaphosa stated South Africa reached a sad moment in the progression of the coronavirus pandemic, as the country recorded its 219th death from the disease.
“Every life lost is a tragedy. These 219 people who passed away, had families, they had dependents, friends and colleagues. Their lives were cut short by a virus that has caused human and economic devastation across the world. In recording and reporting on the daily figures of new infections, deaths and recoveries; we can too easily lose sight of the fact that we are dealing with human lives.”
Nearly seven weeks since the nationwide lockdown has been implemented. However, as Ramaphosa explained, without the lockdown, the number of coronavirus infections would have soared uncontrollably.
“Our health facilities would have been overwhelmed and many thousands more South Africans would have died,” he emphasised.
By delaying the spread of the disease through the lockdown, Ramaphosa explains the government has been able to strengthen the capacity of our health system. They have been able to put in place wide-ranging public health programmes to better manage the inevitable increase in infections.
“We now have nearly 25,000 additional beds available for quarantine. We have been able to source and produce substantial quantities of personal protective equipment for health workers, vital medical equipment and other supplies.”
Furthermore, Ramaphosa added the government has introduced several vital measures to support the companies, workers and households that have been severely affected by the lockdown.
“We have introduced an economic and social relief package worth over R500 billion to help companies in distress, to save jobs and to provide some income to informal workers and poor households.”
Since it was established, Ramaphosa explains the special COVID-19 relief scheme of the Unemployment Insurance Fund has paid out over R11 billion to 2 million employees employed by over 160,000 companies in distress. He says this will help to keep companies afloat and save millions of jobs.
Furthermore, Ramaphosa says the Solidarity Fund, which was set up to support the coronavirus response, has raised around R2.7 billion in commitments from over 175,000 individuals and more than 1,500 companies and foundations.
What are the plans for the future? What do Ramaphosa and his team have planned for South Africans in the upcoming weeks?
“Now, two months after we declared a national state of disaster, we are ready to shift to a new phase in our response to the coronavirus pandemic. On the first of May, we moved to Alert Level 4 and began the phased easing of the national lockdown.”
He explains this was in line with the risk-adjusted strategy through which the government sought to slow down the rate of infection and flatten the curve.
“We are now preparing for a further easing of the lockdown and a gradual opening of the economy.”
Ramaphosa says leadership will immediately begin a process of consultation with relevant stakeholders on a proposal that by the end of May, most of the country be placed on alert level 3.
However, parts of the country with the highest rates of infection remain on level 4.
As the necessary steps are taken to ease into the next level of the nationwide lockdown, Ramaphosa explained that in the coming days, the government will be announcing certain changes to level 4 regulations. This will be in order to expand permitted business activities in the retail space and e-commerce and reduce restrictions on exercise.
With difficult times ahead, Ramaphosa says he pledges to ensure all South Africans’rights are respected and upheld. Especially by those who have been entrusted with this responsibility.
“As your President, as this government, we are firmly committed to meeting the expectations you rightly have of us,” he emphasises.
To read President Cyril Ramaphosa’s full speech, click on sacoronavirus.co.za
