Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has been accused of acting like an ‘irrational dictator’, over the extended State of Disaster rules – Photo: Flickr / GCIS
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has been accused of acting like an ‘irrational dictator’, over the extended State of Disaster rules – Photo: Flickr / GCIS
Should they stay or should they go? The government has just five days before the State of Disaster lapses – but it seems a number of leading politicians are getting cold feet. During an address to traditional leaders on Thursday, COGTA Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma suggested which lockdown rules would be next for the chop.
However, while many will see her announcement as a step in the right direction, NDZ did not speak like someone who was ready to cast off the shackles of virus restrictions. Most of the returning freedoms she hinted at came with caveats, on topics including mask wearing mass gatherings.
Dlamini-Zuma’s speech has arguably raised more questions than answers – but you can judge for yourselves:
“[It has been suggested that] non-pharmaceutical measures, like wearing masks, could possibly be kept for indoor settings. But outdoors, people should be able to go without a face-covering. Social distancing should be kept at one metre, rather than 1.5 metres. Washing hands and sanitising will remain for good.”
“In terms of gatherings, the Health Department has suggested we can move to filling 50% of ALL venues. However, it has also been suggested that people attending these mass gatherings must also be fully vaccinated.”
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
According to NDZ, the Health Department isn’t committing to a full walk-back from lockdown rules just yet. If everything she spoke about on Thursday comes to fruition, mask mandates will still live on, albeit in a reduced manner. Another 50cm isn’t going to make a huge difference when it comes to social distancing, either.
Whereas stadiums and arenas have been fully opened across the planet, South Africa – according to the minister – will likely show restraint here, too. That’s despite our COVID-19 numbers remaining at extremely low levels.
The low vaccination rate in this country is being blamed for the government’s alleged hesitancy – and those who HAVE NOT been jabbed may be denied access to indoor settings and mass gatherings. As Dlamini-Zuma discussed earlier, this is how South Africa’s lockdown rules could change next week:
What lockdown rules are likely to end?
What lockdown rules are likely to stay?