The IFP welcomes the declaration of a National State of Disaster by President Cyril Ramaphosa this evening in response to the anticipated risk of the further spread and outbreak of covid-19.
We welcome the swift, bold and decisive action taken by the President in safeguarding South Africans from infection.
The extraordinary measures are an indication of the seriousness in which all South Africans should take in curbing the spread of the coronavirus.
However, the President did not adequately address the impact that these measures would have in terms of governments ability to continue delivering services such as clean drinking water and improving water-infrastructure and sanitation conditions in township and rural areas in the country.
We are also confident that the measures announced – in terms of travel restrictions; increased screening efforts at air, sea and land ports of entry; events and gatherings which are either discouraged or banned from taking place; and the efforts of the private and commercial sectors in ramping up hygiene efforts to continue economic activities – will reduce the impact of the spread of the virus.
The IFP echoes the plea of President Ramaphosa for all South Africans to take urgent and extraordinary preventative efforts to stop the spread of covid-19 and to desist from spreading fake news and misinformation.
We await the details of sectors the President outlined and we urge government to heed our calls in fast-tracking the delivery of basic services in communities which stand to be most vulnerable at this time of emergency.
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Contact:
Mkhuleko Hlengwa MP
IFP National Spokesperson
071 111 0539
