DURBAN - PEOPLE have questioned the government’s seriousness about fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. This was after rumours of a stricter lockdown spread as Covid-19 cases surge in the country and a new variant, Omicron, has been discovered by South African scientists.
Many who spoke to the Daily News on Sunday said that during the local government elections earlier this month, the government had relaxed Covid-19 protocols as if the virus no longer existed, but now there was talk of imposing a strict lockdown.
Nokwanda Shoba from C section, uMlazi, said there was no need to close the country again; instead the government should force people to get vaccinated.
“It’s annoying that the government allowed election rallies and did not do anything about the flouting of Covid-19 protocols, but after the elections they seem to be more concerned. The government gambled with people’s lives, and it must take the blame for the rising number of cases,” said Shoba.
She did not fear the pandemic anymore as she had been vaccinated, she said.
Sicelimpilo Biyela, from Ulundi, said the disease was man-made and asked why cases only rose after the elections were long over. He said people were told it took 14 days for Covid symptoms to develop, but cases remained low throughout the election campaign.
“Now a month after the elections, numbers are rapidly rising. Where do these new infections come from, and what is spreading it?” asked Biyela.
Thandeka Nzimande, from Q-section, uMlazi, said the poor would suffer the most if the country returned to a strict lockdown. She lost her job at a restaurant after the last strict lockdown. She had hoped to be called back to work during the festive season because Covid-19 cases were decreasing, but she had now lost hope as numbers began rising again last week.
Tevin Padayachee, from unit 9 in Chatsworth, felt the government must close inter-provincial travel, especially from Gauteng, as cases surge.
Navin Dookran from Claire Estate said the UK did well by immediately imposing a ban or quarantine on South African travellers and those from other countries due to the new variant. He welcomed the closing of borders immediately, especially neighbouring countries.
Winnie Nene from KwaMakhutha township, who runs a decor and catering business, said she was praying the country did not return to a stricter lockdown because December was the busiest month for her catering businesses.
Others said they no longer feared the coronavirus because they had gotten used to it, but feared losing their jobs if a stricter lockdown returned.
Cosatu secretary Edwin Mkhize said their worry was always not being consulted when the government imposed stricter lockdowns. He said workers and the poor were most affected, and urged the government to consider the working class’s views when making any Covid decisions in future.
Daily News