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On Wednesday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa told members of the South African National Publishers Forum (Sanef) in a virtual conversation that the coronavirus command council had been in consultation with social partners about the next move.
FILE: President Cyril Ramaphosa. Image: @ PresidencyZA / Twitter
JOHANNESBURG – South Africans can expect a speech from the president next week after weeks of calls for further relaxation of lockdown regulations.
Many in the gig economy, including event and entertainment companies, have been calling for the country to move to level one of the lockdown so they can operate.
Many have had no income for more than five months when they were closed.
On Wednesday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa told members of the South African National Publishers Forum (Sanef) in a virtual conversation that the coronavirus command council had been in consultation with social partners about the next move.
Could the country move to lockdown level one?
While we have to wait until next week to hear from the president, he hinted at some of the ongoing discussions.
“This is where we will need the advice of the medical advisory committee, as well as our network articulations, which is the real engine of monitoring our approach to coronavirus, so we will be considering all of that and keeping an eye on this space …”
South Africa has been under lockdown, with varying levels in place since March, when COVID-19 infections spread across the country.
Although the action has bled the economy and left many unemployed, the president said that social partners at the National Council for Economic Development and Labor were still finalizing the economic recovery plan.
He said that there was consensus on a series of issues among companies, workers and the government on the proposals that he expected to be presented to the country in the coming weeks.
WATCH: ‘Watch this space next week’ – Ramaphosa at lockdown level 1
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