Photo: Wikus de Wet / AFP
Photo: Wikus de Wet / AFP
It doesn’t have the lowest number of cases, nor does the province have a clean slate when it comes to coronavirus-related deaths. But there is a genuine belief amongst the politicians of Limpopo that their region could be one of the first places in South Africa to get to Level 2 of lockdown.
Jacques Smalle, the DA’s leader in Limpopo, is hoping to get ANC Premier Chupu “Stanley” Mathabatha onside with his campaign to ‘skip a gear’ when easing lockdown restrictions. He has asked his opposite number to unite his forces behind the cause, after writing to him on Monday.
It’s not just a case of crunching the COVID-19 numbers. Smalle believes that Limpopo’s crushing unemployment rate is the best reason to revive economic activity in the region. Almost a million people remain unemployed here, and things get worse as the ‘hard lockdown’ continues. It’s worth noting:
If Smalle is successful in getting Mathabatha’s support, the provincial forces would have a cross-party campaign – and some rather influential numbers – supporting their argument for a shift into Level 2.
They’d need approval from the national government, but skipping Level 3 isn’t an impossibility. Although the Northern Cape, Mpumalanga and North West have fewer deaths and cases, Limpopo has made the first move:
“We’re concerned that Limpopo’s unemployment rate will skyrocket to beyond repair should the current severe lockdown regulations which hampers economic activity continue for even one more week. The hardships that our citizens must’ve endured during the last 7 weeks is incomprehensible and heartbreaking.”
“Before lockdown, around 922 000 people in Limpopo were unable to find work or had given up looking. In light of this, we ask Premier Mathabatha to follow the necessary procedures to have the province downscaled to Level 2 so that optimum economic activity can resume to prevent the loss of any further livelihoods.”
Jacques Smalle