{"id":567566,"date":"2022-03-13T07:16:29","date_gmt":"2022-03-13T05:16:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=567566"},"modified":"2022-03-13T07:16:29","modified_gmt":"2022-03-13T05:16:29","slug":"problems-over-lifting-south-africas-state-of-disaster-and-lockdown-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/government\/567566\/problems-over-lifting-south-africas-state-of-disaster-and-lockdown-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Problems over lifting South Africa’s state of disaster and lockdown: report"},"content":{"rendered":"

South Africa’s National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) will meet on Monday (14 March) to discuss updated lockdown restrictions for South Africa. However, it is unlikely to scrap the national state of disaster as there is disagreement in the government over how to manage Covid without it, the Sunday Times<\/a><\/strong> reports.<\/p>\n

Government ministers have been given until this week to draft new regulations that will replace the state of disaster. Once these have been agreed upon, the regulations will be gazetted and president Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation.<\/p>\n

However, sources involved in the process told the Sunday Times that there are disagreements over the amount of regulatory authority the health department would have once the pandemic is no longer subject to the National Disaster Management Act.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is disagreement over what needs to be done. There is a feeling that the current proposals leave too many powers in the hands of the minister of health,\u201d said a source privy to discussions. Another insider said the NCCC would continue discussions on how to fully reopen the economy.<\/p>\n

Addressing media on Saturday evening, Ramaphosa said the government was still considering whether to extend the state of disaster this week and what regulations it will introduce to replace it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will not be heavy duty, it will be light duty so that we are able to manage this pandemic going forward.<\/p>\n

“People should not stress too much about this, we are finding the best way possible of bringing a logical conclusion to the (end) of the state of disaster,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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We are looking into ending the State of National Disaster, but we must ensure that we have the necessary health measures in place to help us effectively manage the pandemic. pic.twitter.com\/gNlh07VjpI<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Cyril Ramaphosa \ud83c\uddff\ud83c\udde6 (@CyrilRamaphosa) March 12, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n