Some activist groupings and opposition political parties have rejected the idea of the replacement of the State of Disaster with temporary regulations to be managed under the National Health Act.
Cape Argus reports that leading the opponents of the changes is the campaigning non-profit platform Dear SA, where nearly 200,000 people have visited the website to comment on the new regulations. Dear SA chairperson Rob Hutchinson said that the regulations leave the door open for other restrictions, labelled as advice-giving between different departments. He said this advice can relate to curfew, national lockdown, economic activity and the sale of alcohol, among others, and will have a significant impact on every aspect of life.
“Let us not forget that COVID-19 did not wreck our economy. COVID-19 did not take your job away. COVID-19 did not prevent you from visiting your parents or children. The government did. They did so through regulations, the same regulations that are now being made permanent under the Health Act.”
Political groups have also voiced concerns. According to the Cape Argus report, ACDP president Kenneth Meshoe said the regulations were nothing more than vaccination mandates by stealth and opened the door for the continuation of the State of Disaster. He said the only difference was that it was now under the Department of Health instead of under the Co-operative Governance & Traditional Affairs Department.
FF Plus health spokesperson Philip van Staden said his party had requested an urgent meeting of Parliament’s Health Committee. He said Health Minister Joe Phaahla must attend to discuss the proposed regulations. “The management of a health crisis must be in line with science and, thus, goal-oriented. Any restriction or measure that has no apparent scientific basis is senseless and an abuse of power.”
Freedom of Religion SA director Michael Swain said he saw the continued regulation as the government acting beyond its legal authority.
Cape Argus Pressreader article – New powers in draft regulations ‘tyrannical’ (Open access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
National Health Act replaces SOD but ‘heavy hand’ remains, say critics
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