DA calls on Government to open Level 3 regulations for public comment

25 May 2020

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is concerned that President Ramaphosa has not made concrete promises to South Africans that the Level 3 regulations will be open to public comment and submission.

This would be a departure from his previous willingness to hear from citizens when we moved from Level 5 to Level 4.

The DA has written to the President, through his Parliamentary Councillor to request that a list of consolations be provided to us as well as opening up a the opportunity for submissions by members of the public.

It was as a result of this process that the Government told us that cigarette sales would not be allowed because 2000 people opposed it.

Surely it would be correct for the President, who extols his willingness to consult, to hear from South Africans if they indeed agree with many of the regulations including the continued ban on cigarette sales or does he not want to hear from those that will oppose this ban now, given the opportunity?

In President Ramaphosa’s speech, he said that he had consulted "widely" in the move to Level 3. While the DA by and large supports this, it is important he provides us with the list of who he consulted with.

Did he consult with tobacco companies? Did he consult with hairdressers on their continued exclusion from operating and did he consult with the liquor industry on the reduced trading hours which will lead to long queues outside bottle stores?

We simply can not afford to leave it up to Ministers Dlamini-Zuma and Patel to draw up these regulations without public comment as it will no doubt lead to more confusion and anger from the public. They have hardly covered themselves in glory to date.

Issued by Dean Macpherson, DA Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry, 25 May 2020