By: Natasha Archary
There are growing calls for government to end the National State of Disaster as the impending deadline looms.
The “final extension” was granted by cabinet in February and expires at midnight on Tuesday, 15 March.
While the country remains on Alert Level 1 with most Covid-19 regulations lifted, Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is opposed to end the state of disaster.
The minister has notified Afriforum and civil rights organisation Dear SA of government’s decision to oppose their court bid to lift the National State of Disaster.
Dear SA and Afriforum have embarked on legal action, calling for an end to the state of disaster which has lasted 2-years.
On 10 March, President Ramaphosa confirmed that government is considering extending the deadline, despite assuring South Africans that the February extension was the last.
The organisation questions why government insists on clinging to these emergency powers, in an attempt to make them permanent.
With the rest of the world making great strides to return to normal and abandon restrictions two years since the pandemic broke, the organisation will not abandon its legal action to put an end to the state of disaster.
According to President Ramaphosa, the plans to end the state of disaster will mean an amendment to the National Health Act regulations.
“Writing and passing new legislation is laborious and time-consuming and requires thorough public participation and consultation. These processes take a considerable amount of time, hence there is no guarantee of exiting the state of disaster any time soon,” shared Dear SA in a statement.
Also read: Edwin Sodi hands himself in after alleged assault on estranged wife’s male friend
