SA protest effects to be felt across SADC, say Ramaphosa

SOUTH AFRICANS will feel the effects of the violence that swept through the country in the days, weeks and months to come, President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

“The damage that has been done to vital economic infrastructure will take time to repair. This, in turn, will have an impact on the availability of food, fuel, medicine and other supplies not only in South Africa but across the region,” Ramaphosa said in his national address.

Namibian President Hage Geingob, in his address to Namibians last week, said the country should use the unrest in South Africa to bolster its domestic capacity.

“It has been said that great challenges present opportunities for growth. Anticipated disruptions to the supply chains of essential goods and services in the Republic of South Africa, may present an opportunity to bolster our domestic capacity,” he said.

He said efforts were under way to, among others, increase local oxygen-generating capacity and to fasttrack the manufacturing of coffins locally.

He described the situation in South Africa as a wake-up call for Namibian business people to start producing locally.

Namibia procured oxygen from South Africa and brought it into Namibia by trucks. The protest in South Africa posed a threat to the supply of oxygen to Namibia.

The Namibian reported that burials in Namibia had been postponed as the country was waiting for coffins to arrive from South Africa.

According to the Namibia Statistics Agency, South Africa remained Namibia’s largest import market, with a share of 32% of the value of all goods received into the country in April.

In Botswana on Sunday, Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Mmusi Kgafela met captains of industry in manufacturing (millers), distributors and retailers.

“The objective of the meeting was to assess the availability of food and other essential supplies in light of recent occurrences in South Africa,” spokesperson Chandapiwa Baputaki said. “The sectors have assured government that they have enough cover of essential supplies, and the public is therefore advised not to panic-buy.” – African News Agency (ANA)