Restaurants, hotels to open as restrictions slowly eased

In arguably his most emotional address since the lockdown began on March 26, President Cyril Ramaphosa pulled no punches in stating that SA was battling two pandemics — Covid-19, and the abuse of women and children by violent men.

In his address on Wednesday night, Ramaphosa announced that Alert level 3 of the national lockdown had been eased to allow hairdressers and sit-down restaurants to operate.

For people in the personal care sector, which includes hairdressers and beauty therapists, Ramaphosa's announcement could not have come soon enough. Many have already lost their businesses, leaving them without the ability to support their families.

Owners of sit-down restaurants, licensed accommodation establishments barring home-sharing operations, venues catering to business meetings and conferences, cinemas and theatres will also be breathing a sigh of relief.

“Specific and stringent safety requirements have been discussed with people in these sectors. Businesses will first have to put safety measures in place before returning to work, and strict protocols will have to be strictly adhered to,” Ramaphosa said.

“Announcements will be made in due course about the date when these activities will be permitted.”

Non-contact sports like tennis, golf and cricket will also be allowed to resume, albeit under strict guidelines. Contact sports like rugby are still prohibited, though training will be allowed to resume.

Ramaphosa did not discuss the controversial smoking ban, which remains the subject of a court challenge.

But by far and away the biggest takeout from the president's address was his deep concern over the  rising number of gender-based violence cases in the country.

Explaining that opening up personal care services, industries dominated by women, would assist them to get back on their feet, he said women had suffered greatly under the lockdown as abuse cases rose.

Ramaphosa was “appalled” by what he had seen.     

“Violence is being unleashed on the women of our country with a brutality that defies any comprehension,” he said.

"These rapists and killers walk among us. They  are fathers and brothers and sons and our friends. Twenty-one women and children have been murdered in the past few weeks.”

The president was at pains to reference the women who had been killed, among them Tshegofatso Pule, Nompumelelo Tshaka, Nomfazi Gabada, Altecia Kortjie and Lindelwa Peni, of East London.

“We will speak to the innocent souls of Pule's Tshegofatso's unborn daughter and six-year-old Raynecia Kortjie. These women are not statistics — they have names, they have families and they have friends,” Ramaphosa said.

We want to  commend the SAPS for arresting almost of all these alleged perpetrators.”

He assured the country's women that the criminal justice system would remain focused on gender-based violence cases.

“Perpetrators must receive sentences that befit the horrific crimes they have committed.

He said SA society needed to ask difficult questions of itself, and indicated that alcohol abuse was playing a part in gender-based violence.

“But it is not alcohol that rapes or kills a women or a child — it is the actions of the men of the country. Violent men. If alcohol is contributing then this needs to be addressed. We need to provide greater support to people with drinking problems. We need to be tough on liquor outlets that violate the terms of their licences.

“Ultimately the success of the fight will require the support of our entire society. We cannot remain silent any more.” 

As of Wednesday night,  1,674 South Africans have died of Covid-19.

There have been 80,400 confirmed coronavirus cases, of which 55% have recovered.

Ramaphosa said community transmissions had remained low across most of the country, but  transmissions in the Eastern Cape were starting  to rise and it may be “a few weeks behind the Western Cape” in terms of infections.

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