Staff Reporter
Deputy President David Mabuza says resuscitating the economy in the face of COVID-19 should not come at the expense human life.
But at the same time, Mabuza, who is visiting the Free State to check on its readiness to tackle the spread of the coronavirus under alert Level 3 of the nationwide lockdown, says saving human life should not compromise the economy.
“We must do two things . . . we must continue to save lives, but we must also continue to save livelihoods,” the deputy president said when he addressed the provincial leadership at the Central University of Technology in Bloemfontein this Friday.
“We must continue to save the economy and we must continue to save lives. Now, that balancing act is very difficult . . . and no one person can be perfect,” he added.
Mabuza said despite the challenges life must still go on.
He urged people to adjust to a new norm and abide by the rules and get back to work in order to earn a living.
“We must continue to do our work. Life must go on. We can’t survive on food parcels because to have those food parcels, someone must be in the field to produce food,” Mabuza said.
“So we can’t all . . . hibernate. It’s very important for our people to understand this point that we must change behaviour. We must be able to adapt to the situation and continue.”
Acknowledging the complexity of the latest court challenges against some of the lockdown regulations, Mabuza said the cases may help the country move forward because no one has all the answers to challenges presented by the pandemic.
“We have been challenged. Our people are challenging some of the regulations we put in place . . . we welcome these challenges,” he said.
“Probably this is a time where South Africans must speak because we are faced with a challenge. As we debate, probably we will find the best way of going forward.”
In light of the phased re-opening of schools next week, Mabuza urged teachers to go work and help save the academic year. ‘
He said teachers should be able to work just like health workers have done if given the right protective gear.
“This is a difficult situation for everyone to try and balance. Our children are expected to go to school . . . We must find a way of saving the academic year,” Mabuza pointed out.
The deputy president also praised the province for successfully tracing about 99 percent of the contacts of those who tested positive for COVID-19 saying it helped contain a potential catastrophe.
He said while the model used to trace contacts in Mangaung worked, Bethulie, a new hotspot in Xhariep district with about 47 cases, may need a different approach.
“I’m happy that the province is gradually adapting. You are trying your best to prepare yourselves,” Mabuza said.
“You’re trying to ensure you’re not overwhelmed by the infections because if that happens, it will be a catastrophe. Make it a point that you’re able to trace.”