Statement by Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General
12 July 2021
ADUSTED ALERT LEVEL 4 EXTENDED:
We welcome the announcement of some relief for businesses such as restaurants and gyms. Restaurants will remain under strain, despite being permitted to serve meals again, as the curfew will severely constrain trading hours.
So many people are depending on each one of us to do our bit so that they can try to salvage their businesses and their jobs. It is our duty to each other to adhere to the rules so that the transmission of the virus comes down and so those business sectors that remain shut down can reopen.
EXPANDING VACCINATIONS:
We welcome the President’s announcement that many of the vaccine supply challenges have been addressed and that South Africa has now secured an adequate supply to reach our targets.
The rapid expansion of the vaccination programme is urgent and it appears that there are serious efforts to ensure that the vaccine programme is accelerated.
The agreement concluded with the EU that will allow Aspen to produce the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, under licence, in South Africa is welcome.
However, as the President alluded to, this does not resolve the TRIPS (patent waiver) proposal and the EU deal does not include the drug substance. The World Trade Organisation must urgently address our application for a patent waiver.
UIF-TERS EXPANSION. SOCIAL GRANTS URGENTLY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
We welcome the extension of the TERS employee relief programme for those businesses and employees currently unable to trade.
However, the Government has failed to address the pervasive poverty that is a second pandemic. It is disappointing that there has been no progress on the expansion of the Social Relief Grant and that the Basic Income Grant remains only a discussion.
Poverty is extreme, pervasive and unacceptable. While our economy is shedding jobs we cannot expect adults to live day-to-day without any access to an income.
UNLAWFUL GATHERINGS
Ending the rampant spread of this virus, and reopening the affected businesses, depends on a partnership between government and the people of this country. We each have to do our part.
Government’s duty includes ensuring that the rules apply equally to all and that the enforcement of the rules is seen to be done without fear or favour.
Government and law enforcement agencies must be seen to be taking action when these lockdown rules are brazenly broken.
When government fails to enforce the rules that pact is broken.
Over the past 2 weeks, and during this relatively harsh lockdown, we have witnessed large gatherings apparently taking place with impunity. There must be swift and demonstrable action taken if we are to sustain the adherence of the majority of us.
VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM
We welcome the President’s unequivocal commitment to the rule of law and to ensuring that those who are currently engaged in anarchic violence, apparently out of anger over the imprisonment of former President Zuma, will be identified, arrested and prosecuted. For this to be credible those who are openly inciting this violence need to be arrested and prosecuted too.