DA: Ramaphosa is doubling down on 'flawed' lockdown

In his reaction to the President’s address to South Africa on Wednesday evening, DA interim leader John Steenhuisen is calling on Ramaphosa to end the lockdown swiftly, open the economy and save lives and livelihoods from all types of risks.

Steenhuisen says the lockdown is not a rational strategy and has not been so for weeks.

"It is irrational and disproportionate to the scale of the risk that Covid-19 poses, relative to other risks. And it has not been supported by an adequate safety net for poor people and small businesses.

President Ramaphosa is attempting to defend the indefensible. This lockdown has cost more lives than it has saved. Millions of jobs and lives have been destroyed," says Steenhuisen.

He adds South Africa needs to get back to work immediately, but with measures in place to slow the spread.

"A reasonable set of safety regulations for businesses, public transport, schools and households. All regulations must have a direct, undeniable and meaningful impact on slowing the spread of the virus," adds Steenhuisen.

Among other requests, the party called on the government to "allow unfettered e-commerce, lift the ban on cigarettes and alcohol sales and reinstate the separation of powers to enable executive oversight," concludes Steenhuisen.

ALSO READ