Mthembu: ‘Stay home… this pandemic has the capacity to kill all of us’

Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu has pleaded with South Africans to abide by government’s stringent lockdown regulations.

As the swell of unease continues to rise in the hearts and minds of South Africans, despite government amending regulations within the Disaster Management Act as the country comes to terms with lockdown at Level 4, Mthembu has reiterated the call for compliance.

Amid the fierce economic downturn, which is expected to have long-lasting consequences, and the general socioeconomic malaise, South Africans continue to debate government’s interventions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. For many, government’s heavy-handed control has become a burden too heavy to carry.

Mthembu pleads with South Africans to ‘stay at home’

In light of recent regulatory amendments sanctioned by the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) — which have been deemed unproductive, over-restrictive and short-sighted – Mthembu, who oversees ministerial announcements pertaining to the outbreak, has called for restraint.

During a media briefing held by Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Nathi Mthethwa, on Monday morning, Mthembu took the opportunity to elaborate on the severity of the outbreak within both a local and global context. Ostensibly sensing the growing wave of public discontent, Mthembu asked South Africans to abide by government’s initiatives, saying:

“We are dealing with the deadly virus. We still want to appeal to all people in various parts of our country; please stay at home. Please stay at home so that you don’t have regrets that because of your not staying at home so many people could’ve died as a consequence of your not staying at home [sic].”

Mthembu’s impassioned plea comes amid fierce legal challenges aimed at government and the NCCC in particular. In addition to contests instituted by tobacco firms, following government’s abrupt U-turn on the controversial cigarette law, a group of advocates have challenged the NCCC’s Constitutional mandate and oversight.

Minister’s grim COVID-19 picture an over exaggeration

In a letter directed to President Ramaphosa, advocates Vuyani Ngalwana SC, Nazeer Cassim SC and Erin Richards have raised serious concerns regarding the NCCC’s jurisdiction and powers, noting that overbearing  restrictions on social freedoms may be constitutionally invalid.

President Ramaphosa, as the ‘collective’s leader’, has vowed to support the NCCC and its decisions.

During his clarion call for compliance, Mthembu painted a grim — albeit over exaggerated — picture of the future which awaits a defiant nation. The minister exclaimed:

“This is a responsibility for all of us, it’s not only a government matter. Government can only do so much but ultimately it’s all of us that must hold hands and fight this pandemic.

If we don’t work together to fight this pandemic, this pandemic has [the] capacity to kill all of us.”

Mthembu’s comments, although intended to promote compliance and unity, have been blasted as unnecessary fearmongering.

South Africa’s current confirmed caseload sits at 6 783; with 2 549 recoveries and 131 deaths. It’s estimated that the coronavirus’ mortality rate is around 3.4%.