‘Disastrous’: Politicians slaughter ANC’s controversial Level 4 rules

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has copped some heat since Wednesday evening, after the COGTA minister delivered one of the more unpopular speeches you’re likely to hear. Revealing the government’s blueprint for Level 4 of lockdown, some of the guidelines directly contradicted messages from President Ramaphosa.

Level 4 lockdown – the more things change, the more they stay the same

Cigarettes, initially heading back to supermarket shelves, were banned again without warning. The decision to funnel all daily exercise into a three-hour window raised questions, and there was further criticism of how few businesses will be allowed to reopen from Friday onwards.

Leadership means making unpopular decisions for the good of the public. But it would seem Dlamini-Zuma failed to please barely anyone last night. Her political opponents were the least complimentary, and several decided to stick the boot in following the car-crash conference.

Political reaction to Level 4 lockdown changes

DA – John Steenhuisen blasts “blunt, restrictive” changes

“Government has essentially smuggled through an extension of the hard lockdown under the guise of easing restrictions. Their disastrous approach is unnecessarily blunt and restrictive, with simply no justification for many of the arbitrary rules and restrictions. This threatens to generate an explosion of non-compliance.”

“Some of the decisions are draconian, such as the continued ban on smoking and sale of hot food. The President told us smoking would be allowed in Level 4 – but the command council has backtracked. The common thread running through the restrictions is government’s fundamental lack of trust in its people.”

People’s Dialogue: Herman Mashaba slams “disingenuous behaviour”

“This is not about the sale of cigarettes; this is about misleading the public. The Minister said 2 000 submissions opposed their sale. Yet smokers had no incentive to comment because they assumed they‘d be available. Had they known it was a referendum they might‘ve participated.”

“Ultimately this exposes a disingenuous attempt to engage the public in good faith. All regulations must serve the purpose of limiting the spread of the disease. These Level 4 restrictions appear rather to be guided by a desire for arbitrary command and control.”

The patience & goodwill the South African people have expressed toward Pres @CyrilRamaphosa is being eroded by the Ministers responsible for the development of these non-sensical regulations.

Businesses are closing daily, with millions facing starvation. Where is the humanity?

— Herman Mashaba (@HermanMashaba) April 29, 2020

EFF: Mbuyiseni Ndlozi swings in the other direction

“We were under a month-long lockdown and cases did not decrease. They increased to 5 000. The curve did not flatten at all. If the curve was rising during lockdown, what will happen when lockdown is relaxed? FACT: Ramaphosa is unleashing the mass murder of our people!”