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President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the country on what the government will do beyond the national blockade to reopen the economy.
President Cyril Ramaphosa. Image: Abigail Javier / EWN
JOHANNESBURG – As President Cyril Ramaphosa prepares to address the nation on Thursday night, there are calls to reopen more sectors of the economy to prevent further devastation of livelihoods.
Ramaphosa is expected to address the country on what the government will take beyond the national blockade to reopen the economy.
On Tuesday, the president announced a R500 billion socio-economic aid package.
South Africans will find out on Thursday night whether closing regulations will be relaxed and which sectors of the economy will be able to reopen.
Black Business Council President Sandile Zungu said that given the high mortality of small, medium and micro-businesses, some sectors of the economy have to open up.
“We believe we need to balance the need for public health and the need to keep our economy growing.”
Sizwe Pamla of the South African Congress of Trade Unions said that while they supported the blockade, things could not stay the same for long.
“While we welcome the interventions and relief measures, we need a sustainable solution.”
The president said Tuesday that a risk-adjusted approach to return to business would be followed, balancing the need to limit the spread of the virus with the need for people to return to work.
For official information on COVID-19 from the Department of Health, click here.
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