S2E01 – SOUTH AFRICA: Stay At Home!!
We are indeed under difficult times in the world. There is fear and uncertainty in every country. While we have to deal with the ever growing pressure cause by the rapid spread of the #COVID-19, the depraved human nature shows itself off in the fake news and in the useless conspiracy theories that are being circulated in internet. Such things continue to worsen the situation and instigate unnecessary panic.
I have been hearing reports of people who were out in numbers, queueing at Supermarkets, getting ready to selfishly stockpile goods, despite the reassuring words from the president that production and supply of goods will continue during the lockdown. People will be allowed to go and buy food, medicine and other basic necessities in a controlled fashion. There is absolutely no need for panic buying. Buy what is enough for you and your family to use for a few days and watch for expiry dates on certain items. Give others a chance to find food when they come to the shops.
By all means people should stay at home. The key part for the National Lockdown is to stay at home. This forbids even visits to friends. Stay at home with your own family.
MY CONCERNS REGARDING THE NATIONAL LOCKDOWN
Stray Kids
I am very concerned with my neighbourhood. There are lots of kids that are roaming the streets and their parents do not know where they are. With such poor parenting, the chances for the virus to spread through kids is very high. I do not know if parents fully understand the meaning of the lockdown and its purpose.
The purpose of the lockdown is to limit the transmission of COVID-19. The authorities are hoping that through these security measures the virus might stop spreading. Now with so many parents who have no control over their kids and who fail to lock the gates to make sure their kids do not leave and their friends do not come over, the purpose of the lockdown will be a total failure and we would have suffered in vain.
Soldiers
We understand that the Lockdown will be facilitated and enforced by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) by the way of assisting our incompetent, corrupt and equally overwhelmed South African Police Service (SAPS). My concern is, we have not been told exactly how the soldiers will handle the violators during the Lockdown. Will they be arresting and detaining offenders or will they be using threats and physical force to persuade people to stay at home?
While we are told that we would be allowed to buy food, medicine and also to seek medical assistance, it is not clear if public transport will be available for us to get to those places where we might get food, medicine and other basic. If the public transport is available we do not know how long in the course of the day is it available and how many public transport vehicles will be available.
Will the soldiers be patrolling the streets of our townships and suburbs? or they will close off the exit points form these areas? How will they be able to identify those who are offending from those who are going to get the basic necessities as stipulated in the terms of the National Lockdown.
The Street Vendors
With the Lockdown imposed, I am not clear as to how those who support their families through selling fruits and other goods in the streets are they to be assisted so that their lives and immune systems are not compromised through hunger and malnutrition. (Honestly they should have consulted me: I am good at finding problems for every solution.)
Will those who have enough be allowed to assist them in donating some food parcels, during the 21- Day Lockdown? How can we identify them, if at all we are allowed to donate food parcels to them?
WHAT CAN WE DO NOW?
The best thing we can do is to stay at home. While we remain in our comfortable houses, we must remember those families whose economy would be hit hard by the Lockdown and whose lives are at far more risk than ours. Pray for them. When the world is in such a turmoil and is covered with so much fear. There is only one ROCK that is higher than us. The only place of refuge. His name is JESUS CHRIST the Son of God.
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