(Covid-19 debate in Northern Cape Legislature)
It is shocking to think that the coronavirus, which is sowing so much destruction, was only identified about eight short months ago. In the interim, more than 16 million people across the world have been infected, 3 600 of which reside in the Northern Cape.
That amounts to approximately 0,3% of the province's population in comparison to 1% in Gauteng and 1,3% in the Western Cape. In that regard, the Northern Cape seems lucky.
It is interesting to note how significant adversaries are to the human race. Some of the greatest technological and other breakthroughs were made when populations were forced to unite against a common enemy.
The coronavirus is an enemy that does not distinguish based on colour, wealth or poverty. It has disrupted our lives to such an extent that measures that were unheard of just a year ago have now become customary. We wear masks, we have stopped drinking and smoking – or we are doing it at great expense – we do not greet each other with hugs and we no longer gather in large numbers.
While humans are extremely adaptive and can easily get used to various new ways of doing things, it is not possible to get used to hunger. The question is not whether the economy will contract, it is how much.
There is also no doubt that job opportunities will be lost and the question is how many. This means that starvation will become a grave reality in South Africa.
South Africans are faced with two common enemies: The coronavirus and economic collapse under the rule of the ANC. Covid-19 cannot be effectively combated by only focusing on one part of the population and the same is true for the rebuilding of the economy as well as education and other services that will have to recover.
Now is not the time for seeking personal gain, but to unite and defeat the common enemy.
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