EFF statement on the re-opening of schools and sectors of the economy

21 May 2020

The Economic Freedom Fighters notes the government's announcement on the intention to re-open schools during the lockdown period, which was put in place as part of the measures to contain the rapid spread of COVID-19. The intention to re-open schools coincides with the broader consultation whose purpose is to re-open various sectors of the economy. The phased re-opening will entail that a significant number of people will unavoidably be exposed to human contact, which will come with travel and interaction in different sectors of the economy and schooling sector.

While we appreciate the difficulties that come with the lockdown measures, we reiterate our position that any form of phased re-opening should be strictly based on the scientific and epidemiological basis. The re-opening of schools and the different sector must necessarily be informed by the absolute certainty that such will not lead to increased infections, hospitalisations, and death. This should be so because re-opening different sectors of the economy and schools entail that amongst other things, the public and scholar transport, informal trading and a variety of human interactions will be increased.

As things stand, all scientific and epidemiological data and modelling point to the reality that the lockdown regulations have thus far contained the rapid spread of the virus. There is currently no credible scientific data that illustrates that easing the lockdown regulations, even with precautionary measures such as wearing masks, washing hands and constantly using hand sanitisers will not lead to the increased spread of the virus. If anything, the daily community infections have been increasing, even under strict measures.

The reality is that re-opening of many economic sectors, as evidenced by the Impala Mine infections in Limpopo, will rapidly increase the spread of the disease. The voices that are calling for premature unscientific re-opening of the economy are predominantly led by the racists White Monopoly Capital that has never cared for the lives of our people. Their view of black lives has always been as cheap and easily disposable: hence historically, blacks have always been subjected to risky working conditions that shorten their lives or leave them with diseases. The white monopoly capital knows that its privileged white population will be less if not exposed at all to the virus because their working conditions have guarantees of occupational health, safety and general access to quality healthcare. Opening the economy now will only lead to massive death of black people.

The lockdown must be continued with the guarantee of food for all people, including payment holidays for all workers. The financial sector must not be allowed to continue the sabotage of the lockdown by not giving all workers payment holidays.

The existing scientific and epidemiological advice to the South African Government is that lockdown restrictions and regulations must be eased only when daily infections are less than 45. Currently, daily infections exceed 1000. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has already said that South Africa is not ready to ease the lockdown regulations. The South African COVID-19 Consortium, which officially advises the government on the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic illustrates that the strict lockdown regulations have to some extent, contained the rapid spread of the virus. Relying on scientific guidance and basis, the Minister estimated that South Africa might experience more than 40 000 deaths before the end of 
2020.

These hardcore and undisputed scientific observations defeat any consideration to re-open many sectors of the economy and schools. Furthermore, the intention to permit the sale of alcohol will only worsen the situation because even when there is no effort to contain a pandemic, alcohol has been responsible for many health-related and social ills in society.

The EFF believes that schools should only be opened once the following non-negotiable conditions have complied with South Africa:

a) A scientific and epidemiological illustration that the spread of the virus has been contained and the curve flattened in South Africa.

b) Guaranteed quality healthcare facilities and systems for all schools.

c) Guaranteed infrastructure for teaching and learning, including additional classrooms, which could be converted public halls, mobile classes and other safe public spaces which will ensure that the teacher to learner ratio is I :20.

d) Guaranteed social distancing spaces, including assembly points and retail food spaces where human contact will be completely prevented.

e) Complete discontinuation of contact sporting activities.

f) A well-coordinated system of sanitisations and supply of key essentials which must be administered by the department of health, because it will be impossible to expect teachers to administer healthcare precautions added to the fact that with stratified classrooms, the core business of teachers, which teaching will increase.

g) Guaranteed clean water supply for all school.

h) Guaranteed sanitation, emphatically clean toilets for all schools, including those that did not have toilets before the advent of COVID-19.

i) Safe and reliable public and scholar transport system which will ensure that learners keep a social distance.

j) Introduction of technology which will lessen the time learners spend in physical schools and integrated into the technological form of teaching and learning. Maximal usage of technology as a method of teaching and learning should constitute the core of what government adopts as part of the policy and practice of education in South Africa.

k) A Parliamentary multi-party committee which will verify and confirm that all schools in all provinces meet these essential pre-conditions because government as illustrated that it cannot be trusted with the lives of our people.

We know that many schools, particularly in rural areas and townships, do not meet these conditions, and therefore the intention to re-open schools before these conditions are met must be rejected with contempt. We believe that these non-negotiable conditions should be the only basis for the re-opening of schools, not a premature, senseless and reckless re-opening which will expose teachers, learners and communities to COVID-19.

The re-opening of schools and the entire education system should be given proper and effective oversight by elected representatives from all political parties in South Africa. This, therefore, calls for the long-overdue re-opening of parliament, preferably in Tshwane because all Government departments are in Tshwane and the majority of Members will be able to access Tshwane with ease as opposed to Cape Town where Parliament is currently located. The Powers and Privileges Act, and the Rules that govern Parliament and National Council of Provinces permit the Speaker or Chairperson of the NCOP to convene parliament in any land in South Africa.

The right to life is the most fundamental and most important in South Africa's Constitutional democracy and must not be sacrificed on the altar of political and economic convenience.

The reality is that we all have an obligation to make sacrifices that should save lives and not make life sacrifices that will save the economy. The EFF strongly demands that the government should reconsider the premature, senseless and reckless re-opening of various sectors of the economy and schools until there is a solid scientific and epidemiological basis to do so.

Issued by Vuyani Pambo, National Spokesperson, EFF, 21 May 2020