DA Calls on Ramaphosa to End COVID-19 Curfew before New Years Eve

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to end the curfew before New Year’s Eve.

In a statement, the party said hospitalisation rates are low across the country and the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has proved to be far more mild than past variants.

The DA also said vaccines have proven to be extremely effective at protecting against severe disease and death.

DA leader John Steenhuizen said ending the curfew is an easy and logical way to boost the economy, particularly the restaurant and events industry which have taken huge strain and made immense sacrifices during the pandemic.

Steenhuizen said most people are also not observing the curfew.

“This underscores the irrationality of the curfew, which is doing more harm than good by undermining the rule of law. Are the police going to arrest people celebrating New Year’s Eve? Law enforcement should be focused on preventing drunk driving and real criminality, not curfew, so that law-abiding people can safely usher in the New Year.”

South Africa is currently on an adjusted level one of the COVID-19 lockdown with the curfew set from midnight until 4am.