Tebogo Msimanga |
Democratic Alliance Shadow Minister of Health Siviwe Gwarube says the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that South Africa will move to adjusted level 2 lockdown comes as little surprise as at least 4 of the 9 provinces have entered the 3rd wave of infections.
President Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Sunday evening, 30 May 2021. Grwarube said the reality is that this was inevitable with the ‘sluggish rollout of the vaccine’.
“As of Friday the 28th of May, the government would have vaccinated less than a million people. This means that the target of vaccinating 40 million people by year- end is unattainable.”
She further said this is a dismal performance considering how the 1st and 2nd wave of infections and subsequent lockdowns cost so many lives and livelihoods. “This pace of vaccination will certainly lock the country in perpetual lockdowns for months to come.”
Gwarube said while they welcome the restriction on large gatherings, vaccines are needed urgently to stem the bleeding of the South African economy.
She added that the DA has repeatedly called for an efficient vaccine rollout programme for the past year. “The pandemic has exposed and exacerbated South Africa’s social and economic challenges and we simply cannot afford any further restrictions”.
