EFF rejects the ‘ending’ of the Covid-19 lockdown
24 May 2020
The EFF rejects, with deep sadness, what is effectively the ending of the Covid-19 Lockdown. The announcement by Ramaphosa tonight must be read as a resignation speech from fighting Covid-19 and saving lives, especially black lives.
In essence, the opening of the economy and sale of alcohol stood as significant announcements tonight. These alone, have essentially ended the lockdown which sought to ensure social distancing, flatten the curve, prepare the healthcare system and save lives.
Government's decision to uplift the lockdown regulations happens on no sound scientific and epidemiological basis. This is despite their repeated commitment that science will be the only basis to guide decisions for reopening the economy. Tonight's decision must therefore be categorically rejected as reckless and senseless only benefiting the white capitalist establishment at the expense of black people's lives.
Up to this point, the South African Covid-19 curve of infections has worsened over the last weeks, now standing at 22 583 total infection. In fact, we are beginning to see a weekly average of over 1000 cases a day. A week ago, on the 17th of May, there were only 264 deaths. Today, there are 429; that is close to a double increase. All this happened under a lockdown. When the lockdown restrictions have been removed, all these numbers will shoot to the sky.
All trauma units in the country had rested from the cases related to alcohol. Alcohol sale is the effective undermining of all this effort to use hospital space and resources to focus on growing Covid-19 cases. In the next coming weeks, alcohol-related road accidents and interpersonal conflicts will start filling the trauma units in our public hospitals.
Today, Ramaphosa told the nation and its citizens that "it is now in your hands". This is because from here on, the government does not have a plan that will deal with Covid-19. The lives of black people are lives of overcrowding, dilapidated healthcare, sanitation and housing. The Covid-19 virus will only thrive under these conditions. Many people will die because of no access to healthcare and treatment. Majority of these people will be blacks, especially Africans.
The government had an option of continuing with the lockdown with a guarantee of food for everyone. They could have also taken this time to expand quality healthcare for everyone.
They also could have uplifted millions out of informal settlements, renovated, expanded public schools and sanitation for everyone.
The only safe people from Covid-19 are predominately the white population due to proper sanitation, housing and healthcare conditions. Over 80% of black people will not have access to healthcare to get treatment to fight the virus.
During colonial and apartheid times, the liberation movement leadership used to say black people are on their own. This was because the government of the time was founded on the neglect of black lives. The ending of apartheid, the establishment of a democratic government, should mean black people can now rely on the state. Tonight, Ramaphosa has single-handedly reversed all this confidence by saying the fight against Covid-19 is now in our hands.
With the distant and recent history of white monopoly capital's neglect of occupational health and safety for black people, how could you say it is in our peoples' hands? How could you tell a mineworker that it is in their hands to make sure the mine they work in practices social distancing when in fact it is not their mine? How could you tell domestic workers not to clean the homes of their bosses when they cannot determine if the boss is positive of Covid-19 or not?
Above all, no amount of washing hands, sanitising and social distancing could ever work in overcrowded and dilapidated public facilities like in transport, workplaces and schools.
It must be put on record that today the ANC led government has abdicated its responsibility to guarantee the right to life, especially of black people.
Issued by Vuyani Pambo, National Spokesperson, EFF, 24 May 2020
