South Africans, who are suffering the aftermath of the national lockdown implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19, are gatvol.
This is according to research done by Victory Research for City Press.
To curb the spread of COVID-19, the country imposed a 21-day lockdown that has since been extended by two weeks to the end of April. However, on Thursday President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a five-level plan to ease lockdowns and a R500 billion stimulus package.
The report by Victory Research revealed that while “strong” support for the lockdown was at 77% when the measure was initially announced on March 23, it dropped to 70% when it was extended from April 16 to 30.
But this week, as Ramaphosa was about to extend the lockdown – albeit with some easing of restrictions – only 30% of the respondents expressed strong support for this.
This is in sharp contrast to the mere 9% of respondents who strongly opposed the lockdown initially, the 14% opposers when an extension was implemented, and the 43% who are strongly opposed to the measures continuing beyond April 30.
Victory Research director Ryan Coetzee told City Press that the majority of citizens were now faced with the socio-economic challenges of living in confinement, which made it difficult to continue supporting the measure.
Also read: Coronavirus: South Africa Records 4 361 COVID-19 Cases, 7 New Deaths
As of yesterday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 4 361.
The total number of tests conducted to date is 161 004, of which 8 614 were done in the last 24 hours.
“Today we are saddened to report 7 more deaths, making the total number of deaths 86,” said Dr Zweli Mkhize, Ministere of health.
Also read: Coronavirus: 1.5 Million South African Workers Set to Return to Work
About 1.5 million more South Africans will from 1 May return to work as the government begins to lift a fraction of COVID-19 lockdown regulations.
This comes as the government gradually eases the economy back into activity, as announced this week by Ramaphosa. The regulations were introduced last month as the government sought to counter the spread in the country. About 3, 400 South Africans have contracted the virus, while about 70 have died.
Trade, Industry and Commission Minister Ebrahim Patel presented the details contained in the Risk-Adjusted Strategy, which is out for public comment and consultation.
During the briefing, the Minister detailed the classification of industries as part of the risk-adjusted strategy on re-opening the economy.
In determining which sectors to open, Patel said the government was considering a new alert system to measure the degree of risk and an industrial classification system to indicate economic activities that will commence either completely or in part.
Also read: #CyrilFridays – SA Twitter Praises President Ramaphosa For His Leadership
South Africans took to Twitter on Friday to commend Ramaphosa for the leadership he has shown since the coronavirus came to the country.
Twitter called for Fridays to be dedicated to the great work being done by Ramaphosa under hashtag #CyrilFridays.
