AS the second wave of Covid-19 continues to gain momentum, the IFP has appealed to all spheres of government to enforce lockdown regulations with immediate effect.
IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson on Health, Ncamisile Nkwanyana said it was time for government authorities to take the unpopular decision in applying a no-nonsense approach to enforcing lockdown regulations.
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Nkwanyana was reacting after Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize revealed that KwaZulu-Natal was among provinces that were the key drivers of the second wave of Covid-19.
‘Enforcing lockdown regulations must be non-negotiable. A mandate to wear a mask must be enforced. People who disregard lockdown regulations and ignore the call to practise social distancing, must be punished.
‘No one must be treated with kid gloves when it comes to mitigating the spread of this dreaded virus.
‘We believe that if we allow lawlessness, we cannot win the fight against the spread of Covid-19, particularly as we enter the second wave.
‘People are not adhering to protocols anymore, which is unacceptable. As a citizen, you have a responsibility towards your fellow South Africans, to wear a mask and follow the appropriate social distancing protocols,’ she said.
Nkwanyana added that her party supported the call made by the KZN MEC of Health, Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu, who said, if the people of KZN do not change their attitude, the province was at risk of being slapped with tough new Covid-19 restrictions, similar to that imposed in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
‘We cannot afford to go back to hard lockdown. Therefore, attitudes must change. Stubbornness does not help because it puts people’s lives at risk.
‘Law enforcement agencies must conduct roadblocks to ensure that people travelling in large groups are wearing masks.
‘Taxi associations must ensure that passengers and drivers do not board a taxi without wearing a mask.
‘They must also have sanitiser available in the taxi. Anyone not wearing a mask must be given a fine. No one must be allowed to enter any event without a mask. ‘While calling for the enforcement of lockdown regulations, we do not condone any form of brutality by law enforcement agencies,’ said Nkwanyana.
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