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The party also says the extension is intended to “strengthen the government’s control” over citizens.
(From left) President of the Federal District Attorney’s Council Helen Zille, Acting Leader John Steenhuisen, Acting Federal President Ivan Meyer, and National Spokesperson Solly Malatsi pictured on November 17, 2019. Image: @ Our_DA / Twitter
JOHANNESBURG – The Democratic Alliance (DA) again rejected on Wednesday an extension of the Disaster Management Law, describing it as an overreach and an attempt by the government to strengthen its control over citizens.
On Wednesday, Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma announced that she was extending it for a month.
President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a state of disaster on March 15, 2020 in response to the global coronavirus outbreak, shortly after the first infections were detected in his homeland. Alert levels from various states were implemented to enforce the blockade in the country, including suspension of work in addition to emergency services, curfews, as well as travel restrictions and purchase of goods.
The district attorney has been advocating for an end to both the lockdown and the state of disaster.
Her spokesperson Solly Malatsi said Eyewitness news Wednesday: “It is clear that this measure is nothing more than an attempt to strengthen the executive’s control over the country’s population and to continue evading accountability under the shield of the National Law on the State of Disasters.”
The state of disaster was supposed to have ended on June 15. But the Act allows the COGTA minister to extend the state of disaster one month at a time before it expires through a notice in the government bulletin.
The district attorney has criticized both the extensions and the blocking measures.
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