GCIS
The government will begin consultations on a proposal to ease lockdown restrictions in most of the country to level 3 by the end of the month.
However, it envisions that parts of the country with a high concentration of Covid-19 infections will remain on level 4.
In a televised address on Wednesday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the government would make further announcements after the completion of the consultations.
He also said that in the coming days, the government would be announcing changes to level 4 regulations to lift restrictions on trade, e-commerce, and exercise.
The President conceded that the government has faced questions as to whether its response to the coronavirus has shown too little regard for preserving people's livelihoods.
"Our strategic approach has been based on saving lives and preserving livelihoods," he said, after asserting that the lockdown had been a success.
Had the country not imposed stringent confinement measures in late March, Ramaphosa said, some 81,000 South Africans would by now have been infected with Covid-19, as opposed to the current number of 12,074, and the death toll of 219, would have been eight times higher.
The President also admitted that the government had made mistakes in its messaging and promised more transparency in how decisions are reached.
"Some of the actions we have taken have been unclear, some have been contradictory and some have been poorly explained. Implementation has sometimes been slow and enforcement has sometimes been inconsistent and too harsh," he said.
"This evening, I want to reaffirm my commitment and the commitment of the government I lead to take whatever action is necessary to safeguard the life, the dignity, and the interests of the South African people," Ramaphosa said.
He once again thanked South Africans for demonstrating "great courage, resilience and responsibility" during this time.
"The days before us will be difficult. But we will draw strength from what we have achieved," he said.
- African News Agency (additional reporting Algoa FM News)
