Ramaphosa: Let’s use crisis to fundamentally change SA
President Cyril Ramaphosa believes South Africa must use the opportunity to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic as a more just and equal society.
Ramaphosa delivered his Freedom Day message on Monday.
This year marks the first Freedom Day where the country was unable to gather in large numbers to celebrate democracy.
"Let us emerge from the coronavirus pandemic a better country, a more equal country,” said Ramaphosa.
“Let us use this crisis to reaffirm our resolve to fundamentally change our society.”
The Covid-19 pandemic has plunged the country’s economy into turmoil, with predictions that the economy could contract by between 6 and 10% over the next year.
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It has only highlighted the country's inequality gap and plunged millions of South Africans into hunger.
This prompted government to allocate R500 billion worth of social relief to the country's most vulnerable in order to cushion the impact of Covid-19.
"The social relief measures announced last week that are now being implemented are therefore as much about narrowing the gulf inequality as they are about supporting vulnerable citizens through this trying time," said Ramaphosa.
The country will be moving to lockdown level 4 on Friday, where a few industries will be allowed to operate.
A curfew of 5am-8pm has also been imposed by government.