Civil society and political parties have begun chipping away in earnest at the coronavirus lockdown, using a combination of legal actions challenging the constitutionality of the restrictions and behind-the-scenes lobbying by business with government.
The process gained momentum with Thursday’s victory by the Dear South Africa grouping, which saw Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel back down to an ultimatum to permit online shopping or face an urgent court interdict. President Cyril Ramaphosa was meeting the National Economic Development and Labour Council yesterday to discuss the details of moving “most of the country” to Level 3 from Level 4 by the end of this month.
Some sectors, including automotive, have already won concessions from government on reopening and others are putting their case vigorously. An affidavit deposed by Glynnis Breytenbach, a DA MP and former senior prosecutor, said a state of disaster was declared in March, but the current situation was more like a state of emergency without the safeguards.
“South Africans do not know when Level 4 will end – under [the Act], it can go on for months, years or, theoretically, forever.” “The average white South African is more likely to own a vehicle than the average black South African, meaning the latter is more likely to be stranded, rendered immobile or arrested as a result of the transport restriction.”
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