Confusion rules as ministers amend lockdown rules on a whim or a threat
Agaggle of ministers this week took a turn at the podium and inadvertently sought to unravel what seems like a nascent consensus on the measures taken to deal with Covid-19. The amendments they made to the regulations are misguided, short-sighted and could possibly undermine efforts taken thus far to avert a looming disaster.
First to blink was Fikile Mbalula, the blathering minister of transport, who caved in to all the demands presented to him by the taxi industry. It would probably have been something of a miracle had Mbalula stood his ground. The original decision was that taxis would only operate for a few hours in the morning and evening to ferry workers in essential services. The hours were slightly increased after the industry threw its toys out of the cot. Now the passenger load of each taxi has been increased from the original 50% to 70% — and to hell with social distancing.
The government always easily buckles in the face of a minor threat, especially from anything as thuggish and menacing as the ubiquitous taxis. They’ve become a law unto themselves and the government always seems reluctant or afraid to bring them to heel. For instance, it spent billions on the socalled recapitalisation programme, which ultimately floundered because of fierce resistance from taxi owners. And then it exempted the taxi industry from moribund e-tolls for no reason other than that it knew the taxis, if included, would scupper it. They drive any way they like on the road without any regard to laws or the safety of other road users, resulting in countless fatalities. Now, with SA facing an existential crisis, instead of putting its foot down, the government capitulates to sectional interests. Mbalula has never been a bright spark, and it was a surprise when he was recalled to the cabinet. He’s now removed all doubts as to his fecklessness.
If Mbalula seemed to be flying solo, that notion was soon put firmly to rest on Thursday evening. Given her unfortunate encounter at Nasrec two years ago, one would have thought Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was well qualified to handle disasters by now. But on Thursday the co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister proved not to be as agile or of nimble mind to manage the lockdown. She walked to the podium and proceeded to announce a raft of amendments which have the effect of watering down the laws governing the curfew. Families and other hangers-on can now travel long distances and even cross provincial borders to attend funerals of a loved one. Spaza shops can now remain open. So too can informal traders i.e. those selling all manner of edibles on the side of the road. They are now back in business. Whether there will be enough traffic to patronise these enterprises during the lockdown or whether it’s safe to grab a quick bite on the side of the road during the era of Covid-19, when hygiene is uppermost in people’s minds, is another matter altogether.
The relaxation of these restrictions at a time when people are beginning to bed down to the new regime is wrong and shortsighted. Apart from sowing confusion in the public mind, it gives the impression that the government either doesn’t know what it’s doing or lacks the guts to stand by the tough measures it has imposed. Of course these measures are painful and nobody likes them. But they are necessary. We are literally between a rock and a hard place. There’s no easier option. We have to bite the bullet.
The upshot of the relaxations is that people will come streaming into the streets again, thus defeating the very purpose of the lockdown. This is not the time to slacken or lose faith. It is time to redouble our resolve. If there’s any need to look again at the measures, that time surely should be at the end of the lockdown, in 11 days. Then the effect of the measures can be analysed and the necessary adjustments made.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has created an outfit he grandly calls the national command council, chaired by himself, to take charge of the running of the operation and communication to the public. But so far it’s not very clear whether anybody is working at its direction. Ramaphosa himself, apart from a few cameo appearances, has done his usual disappearing act and left the field to his ministers. And it seems some of them regard the crisis as their opportunity to “shine”. It’s some sort of egalitarian exercise: they all want — and are entitled to — a bite of the cherry. The result is the shambolic press conferences that have been visited on a public hungry for information. Do they all have to speak? Does Jackson Mthembu have to religiously introduce every minister?
Because the ministers have to each speak to their portfolios, we end up with a lot of clutter, a lot of information all over the place. Some of it doesn’t even seem to hang together or make sense at all. Why is it more acceptable for someone to sell goods on the side of the road than for a lone jogger to go for a morning run? Why is it OK for people to pile into a taxi but not so kosher for an elderly gent to walk his dog and stretch his doddering gait? The ban on the sale of tobacco products is incomprehensible. Cigarettes are a consumable and there are people addicted to the poison.
To earn public trust, the regulations must be seen to be fair and reasonable. Don’t be hard on smokers and joggers simply because they are a soft touch while going easy on a thuggish taxi industry. The government should not only hone its message, it must also have credible messengers to relay it. To ram somebody like Lindiwe Zulu down our throats is not only self-defeating, it is an insult to our intelligence. Ramaphosa needs to get a grip on things.