It was disappointing to hear the president expressing shock on how the pandemic has opened their eyes on how prevalent poverty was in the Eastern Cape.
Well Mr President you are the only one and you’re very late!When you announced the lockdown, those who have flooded the shops and stock-piled are the same people who are able to social distance at their homes; they can quarantine.
They have access to premium healthcare services. Their children have continued learning through various platforms during this intense lockdown, their inconvenience has been limited, hence they say their freedom has been taken away!
This while the poor are pushing each other in SASSA offices to scramble for a paltry R350.
Infringement of freedom is the last thing on their minds. The statistics on fatalities in the Western and Eastern Cape show crowded areas are becoming hot spots simply because adhering to Covid-19 regulations is almost impossible in poor households.
Even a bigger threat awaits them when trains start to operate since in trains there is zero chance of social distancing. If the president didn’t understand the depth of poverty in previously marginalised areas, perhaps that’s why very little has been done.
