Has the lockdown restriction in South Africa help curb the corona virus? Much like the rest of the world, strict lockdown implementations are necessary to stop the spread of corona virus, particularly the second wave that hit the country mid-November however, South African government implemented additional lockdowns such as an alcohol ban, prohibiting the sales of alcohol, a nationwide curfew and beach bans that took place over the festive season, ensuring that no one is to swim on Boxing Day and New Year’s which is usually packed with tourists and locals. The implementations of these rules came just before the festive season started on the 15th of December 2020. President Cyril Ramaphosa said one of the primary reasons for this move was to ease the pressure of health workers in the health system following the second wave
Following the booze restrictions, pressure has been adding to the government to make permanent changes surrounding alcohol laws in South Africa including higher taxes, an increase in the drinking ages and a ban on sales and TV adverts through social media. Though the ban may have helped curb the rising infections during festive, taking into account 27.1% of the fatal accidents in South Africa is caused by drunk driving, in the long term the alcohol ban has brought hardships for small businesses who depend heavily on the sales of alcohol for profit, some have tried to keep going while others have had to throw in the towel. Not to mention the alcohol ban has effected the tourism industry has well, two industries in our country that brings in billion annually.
Curfew has been eased from 9pm nationwide to 11pm, one thing I will commend is that the curfew proved to help on New Year’s Eve especially in Chris Hani Baragwaneth Hospital who for the first time in the hospitals history reported no patients in the trauma ward, hospitals both private and public hospitals are already filled to its full capacity and small wins like this proves level 3 restrictions were indeed effective. Those with more cynical minds believe that the opening and closing on the nation is useless and the infections are still rising no matter. I disagree, opening the economy back slowly will help business who have been suffering as a result but will also maintain some level of control over the virus.
The beach ban, prior to the president releases the beach ban curfew, scores of civilians flocked to Cape Town beach in protest of the ban. A guesthouse owner added that the minute Ramaphosa added the beach ban her salary dropped to 50%, the beach ban has had a massive impact on tourism revenue.
Being a leader of a country means having to make tough decisions, decisions that the rest of society may not see the bigger picture and sometimes society needs rules and regulations to keep order. Either way the lockdown was going to have severe financial consequences but the first priority is to ensure safety of lives and that is what the additional lockdown rules did ensure!
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