We are people of hope, and hope will help us overcome the pandemic

It has been more than five months since President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a state of national disaster and the lockdown. Almost 25-million people have been infected with Covid-19 worldwide, with 17-million recovering. Regrettably, more than 800,000 lives have been lost.

Here at home we have seen more than 600,000 people infected, of whom 500,0000 — about 82% — have recovered so far, which is both incredible and a great relief. Regrettably, we have lost more than 13,000 lives during the same period from this invisible enemy.

These are not just numbers, these are precious people’s lives that this disease has taken from us. Each life lost is someone’s father, someone’s mother, sister or brother; it is someone’s husband, wife or child.

I cannot even begin to imagine the pain and the distress that people are going through — my heart and prayers go out to each person who has lost a loved one.

We pay a special tribute to all our frontline workers — health workers, police officers, defence force members, doctors, nurses and specialists — who have lost their lives in the battle against Covid19. As frontline workers, they risk and sacrifice their own lives to save the lives of others. This is absolutely the ultimate sacrifice any person can give in service to a nation and humanity.

Our words are not enough to thank them and their families.

We call upon our government to have a special day to honour and remember all the fallen frontline workers who have lost their lives in this battle.

However, the cost of the pandemic is not only the economic disaster and the loss of human life we have suffered — the past five months have been immensely difficult and challenging for everyone, socially, financially, emotionally, mentally and even physically.

Our faith and patience have been tested to the full. Our tolerance has been tested. But so far, as South Africans, we have shown a capacity for unity amid heavy challenges, how to overcome adversity and how to maintain a resilient spirit.

On Saturday August 15, President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his address to the nation, announced that the country would be going to lockdown level 2, more restrictions would be eased and more industries would be opened to save our economy, jobs and people’s livelihoods.

In his address, the president issued a warning that the easing of the lockdown restriction did not mean the virus had gone and that we were out of the woods.

We support this call for vigilance. This is not the time to be complacent and let our guard down. We have seen in other parts of the world that the moment people let their guard down, the number of infections starts rising again more rapidly, and countries have been forced to respond with even stronger measures. We don’t want to follow the example of these countries.

We have come too far to give up now. We have sacrificed too much, we have given everything that was asked of us — we cannot give up now and act irresponsibly. We must continue fighting this enemy together in unity, in the most effective way possible. We must keep the protocols that are in place as we start opening up our economy — the washing of hands, using sanitisers, social distancing and wearing cloth masks.

In the case of wearing masks, we have been an example to the world, doing so diligently while other countries were still debating whether or not to use them.

South Africans have shown generosity and displayed the spirit of ubuntu and unity during these difficult times. It is this spirit of unity we need to carry through to overcome this disease.

The coming months may be challenging and difficult for everyone, particularly on the economic front, but as South Africans we have it within us to overcome any adversity. We are known for overcoming many challenges in the past, and we have a resilient spirit.

We are people of hope, and it is hope for the future that will carry us. Sustaining our hope will help us to overcome, and give us the strength to continue no matter how difficult it looks and feels. We must not lose hope, nor give up on hope, because tomorrow will be better. Every storm eventually dissipates and the winds die down. Every cloud runs out of rain and the sun reappears.

I am reminded of the words of our former president Nelson Mandela when he said: “We should all bear in mind that the greatest glory of living lies not in never falling but in rising every time you fall.” Things may be tough and difficult right now but we will overcome these challenges.

We should all bear in mind that the greatest glory of living lies not in never falling but in rising every time you fall

Nelson Mandela