Image via: flickr
Image via: flickr
Addressing the nation on Thursday 3 December, President Cyril Ramaphosa said that complacency and defiance of lockdown laws must immediately come to an end as cases continue to surge, and issued a final warning to those who continue to defy measures aimed at stemming the spread of the deadly virus.
The last “family meeting” held by Ramaphosa was characterised by praise for the way in which South Africans have gone about the undesireable behavioural changes forced upon them, although he did say that a sense of complacency was becoming apparent and warned against dropping the ball so near the try-line. Tonight however, he wasn’t in the mood to balance praise with gentle criticism.
He also confirmed that the National State of Disaster will be extended once again to 15 January 2021.
Ramaphosa blasts complacency in recent weeks
He said that people are beginning to let their guards down, and that this was inevitably going to lead to a resurgence of COVID-19 and the death and illness that result from it.
“Many people are tending to travel between provinces and within the provinces, especially with the festive season now approaching,” he said. “Social and religious gatherings are being attended by many more people than is permitted by Level 1 regulations, in venues with poor ventilation.”
He said that a large rise in alcohol related trauma admissions to hospitals divert healthcare worker’s capacity to deal with COVD-19 related cases, and bemoaned a general complacency creeping in that he has observed in recent weeks.
“Many people are not wearing masks and are not observing proper hygiene and social distancing. At level 1, we have the measures we need to control the virus, but there are parts of our country where people are not complying with the restrictions we have put in place,” he said.
“We must change our behaviour now to prevent a resurgence of the virus. If we think of this pandemic like a bush fire, we must act quickly to extinguish any flare-ups before it becomes an inferno.”
‘Those who break the rules will face serious consequences’
He said that the public must do all that it can to keep the economy open and allow government to push ahead with recovery efforts, and said that the measures being introduced in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) are not meant to punish residents, or increase hardships already being experienced by citizens, but rather to ensure their safety.
“We have all the tools we need to ensure that the virus is contained,” he said. “We can only do this if we all play our part. We must respect the rules, measures and protocols that have been put in place to keep each other safe.”
“Those who break the rules must face consequences. Law enforcement will ensure that the rules are followed and monitor that managers of industry are following social distancing, mask wearing, and other hygiene measures.”
He added that each of us must comply with curfew times.
Masks remain critical defence against COVID-19
Ramaphosa said that while fatigue is certainly creeping in after a long and difficult year, basic precautions remain as important now as they did when first introduced.
“I need to repeat, it is through wearing a mask in public at all times that we can stay safe. Also by ensuring social distancing and avoiding large gatherings where ventilation is poor.”
“I know we might be bored of this message, but I need it to sink in.”
“The festive season is approaching, schools are closing for summer holidays, many are winding down at work and will soon be at home with our families,” he said.
Ramaphosa reiterates public duty to protect one another
He pleaded with the South African public to continue making sacrifices that ensure that more countrymen and women do not succumb to the virus, insisting that it is our duty to take responsibility.
“We cannot let our guard down. Unless we take responsibility for our health and the health of others, many people are going to die. As a nation, we have lost friends, family, parents, children.”
“We have lost many brave frontline workers, essential service workers, who helped to keep the country running during the lockdown period.”
“We owe it to all whose lives have been tragically cut short to not let the same suffering and pain to be visited on other families. We owe it to our country. We owe it to ourselves, and to each other.”
