South Africa

COVID-19: Is the end of the State of Disaster in sight?

The outcomes of the National Coronavirus Command Council’s (NCCC) meeting on Monday, 14 March 2022, will likely determine just how long South Africa will continue with the State of Disaster.

While there are warnings of a fifth wave of COVID-19 infections in June, like many other countries, South Africa is slowly phasing in a post-COVID-19 environment, as evidenced by the fact that most of the restrictions have been eased and rules on how to manage positive cases have been adjusted.

The National State of Disaster, as it currently stands, is subject to extension on a month to month basis by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA). It was declared in March 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

YOU CAN ALSO READ: ‘I want it to end’: Ramaphosa speaks on future of State of Disaster

STATE OF DISASTER ‘UNLIKELY’ TO BE SCRAPPED

According to Sunday Times, the State of Disaster is at the top of the agenda when the NCCC meets, but is highly unlikely that it will be scrapped anytime soon.

According to the publication, ministers have failed to agree on a set of regulations that could be introduced to replace the State of Disaster. An “insider” is cited as having said that some ministers take issue with their health counterpart, Dr Joe Phaahla, having too much authority over the restrictions.

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Back in February, Phaahla did in fact say that a number of departments are considering alternative measures which would essentially replace the State of Disaster, which is expected to expire on Tuesday, 15 March 2022.

“The National Health Department is leading in that regard. We are working on our health regulations, making sure that we have enough protection measures through the National Health Act and its regulations to replace the Disaster Management Act,” Phaahla said.

This would pave the way for President Cyril Ramaphosa to officially end the National State of Disaster, as he had indicated he would during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) earlier this month.

YOU CAN ALSO READ: Cabinet drops ‘major hint’ about KEEPING State of Disaster in place

Artmotion S.Africa

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