MEDIA BRIEFING BY THE PREMIER OF KWAZULU NATAL, HON. MR SIHLE ZIKALALA, 21 JUNE 2020
MEDIA BRIEFING BY THE PREMIER OF KWAZULU NATAL, HON. MR SIHLE ZIKALALA, ON THE RE: COVID – 19 IN THE PROVINCE, 21 JUNE 2020
Hon. MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Ms Nomusa Dube-Ncube
Hon. MEC for Health Ms Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu
Hon. MEC for Education Mr Kwazi Mshengu
Officials present
Members of the Media
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen,
FATHERS’ DAY
I would like to start by wishing all the good fathers across the Province and our country a Happy Fathers’ Day. Our country is blessed with many good fathers who are taking care of their families and loved ones. We pay tribute to the men who act as guardians and mentors to women and children.
This Fathers’ Day comes at a time when the nation is enveloped by a pall of gloom following the spike in incidents of brutality directed at women and children. On this father’s day we call on all men to renew our commitment to protecting women and children. We say enough is enough!
As upstanding men, and members of society in general, let us not look away when women and children are being abused next door. Let us have the courage and resolve to step in by notifying the law enforcement authorities, so that they can take the necessary action, and save the precious lives of women, while taking perpetrators to task. Let us reconnect with our conscience and stop these acts, which are nothing short of evil.
KZN STATE OF READINESS: ADVANCED LEVEL 3 ADJUSTED STRATEGY
We commence today’s briefing by reflecting on the KZN state of readiness for advanced level 3 adjusted strategy. On Wednesday the 17th of June 2020, His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa announced further measures to open up the economy as part of the advanced risk adjusted strategy to minimise the impact of COVID - 19 lockdown on the economy. This stage provides for the re-opening of more sectors of the economy. The categories of services that the President allowed to resume operations are the following:
• All business and institutions permitted under level 5, 4 and 3 with the addition of the following
• Restaurants for sit-down meals.
• Accredited and licenced accommodation, with the exception of home-sharing accommodation like Airbnbs.
• Conferences and meetings for business purposes, in line with restrictions on public gatherings.
• Cinemas and theatres to be aligned to limitations on the gathering of people.
• Casinos.
• Personal care services, including hairdressers and beauty services.
• Non-contact sports such as golf, tennis, cricket and others. Contact sports will be allowed only for training and modified activities with restricted use of facilities.
The Coronavirus pandemic/ Covid 19 global crisis has disrupted the functioning of the South African economy and is also having serious socio-economic effects on the KwaZulu-Natal regional economy. The lockdown of the country has resulted in a number of unintended consequences, namely:
(i) A number of businesses have halted operations or downscaling and some completely shutting down as working capital is eroded and markets are shaken;