Premier nixes DA’s request for Level 2

A tug of war has emerged between the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo and Premier Stan Mathabatha’s office over how the province should manage the Covid-19 lockdown stages.

The DA yesterday asked Mathabatha to reduce the lockdown restrictions to Level 2 in an endeavour to save jobs and swell the province’s economy.

The plea apparently did not strike a chord with the office of the premier.

In a media statement, the DA claimed it was concerned that the province’s unemployment rate may skyrocket beyond repair should the current lockdown regulations continue for even one more week.

DA provincial chair and member of the Limpopo Legislature in Lebowakgomo Jacques Smalle said according to Stats SA’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the Fourth Quarter of 2019, which was released in February, Limpopo not only recorded the highest year-on-year job losses of 112 000, but also had the highest expanded unemployment rate of 44%.

“On 11 February, six weeks before the lockdown, 922 000 in Limpopo were unable to find a job or have given up looking of a job.

“The hardships that these citizens must have endured during the last seven weeks are incomprehensible and heartbreaking.

“The ANC government has always maintained that the reason for the hard lockdown was not to stop the coronavirus from spreading, but to enable government to adequately prepare for it.

“If the statistics of the Provincial Command Council are ... accurate, it appears that the curve in Limpopo is stable,” said Smalle.

As on 17 May, Limpopo had recorded 77 positive cases – 0.5% of the national total. The province had three deaths and 37 recoveries, while Limpopo currently has 37 active infections.

Smalle added that continued monitoring, screening and testing, adequate provision of personal protective equipment to frontline workers, the prevention of inter-provincial travel without permits, as well as personal hygiene and the wearing of masks could assist to allow all economic activity to return.

Mathabatha and nixed the suggestions.

Spokesperson Kenny Mathivha, said the DA was only interested in the economy and not in the lives of the black majority in the province.

“Unfortunately, Limpopo can’t just move itself to Level 2. We are not a federal state like the Western Cape,” he said.

Mathivha said the Limpopo provincial government and Limpopo Command Council will make recommendations to the National Command Council and the president will announce the next level in due time. his office