Explain three important roles of South Africa media with to the COVID 19 pandemic
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Answer:
tralac is monitoring trade-related policy responses to COVID-19
From midnight on Thursday, 26 March 2020, South Africa is in lockdown for 21 days. This announcement was made by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his second address to the nation on COVID-19, on 23 March.[1]
He first addressed the nation on COVID-19 on 15 March, declaring a national state of disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act.[2] He announced that government is taking ‘urgent and drastic measures to manage the disease, protect the people of our country and reduce the impact of the virus on our society and on our economy.’
In his second address, the President announced a national lockdown for 21 days and outlined more stringent interventions in a comprehensive plan to limit transmission of the virus and to mitigate its economic and social impact. Given South Africa’s very specific economic and social situation, this is not only imperative but also complex and very difficult to manage and implement.
South Africa is particularly vulnerable to this pandemic given its levels of poverty, unemployment and vulnerable employment, as well as the incidence of HIV and tuberculosis (TB). The state of public service institutions raises particular concerns, regarding the capacity to implement the measures announced by the President. Capacity in many government and related institutions has been eroded, especially during the years of state capture. Many state hospitals and primary health care facilities have not been able to cope with the delivery of health care services for a long time. Alongside the state health care institutions, is a private health care sector that offers services comparable to many developed countries. This is a time where cooperation and support across public-private sectors, especially but not only in health care, is absolutely essential. It is true that during times of crisis, extraordinary responses and resourcefulness emerge – we definitely need this now. There are of course already many encouraging and heart-warming responses and initiatives, many from those who themselves are very vulnerable across the economy and society. The COVID-19 pandemic makes the role of those in the private sector and civil society, who can help, particularly important at this time to support efforts by government. Collective action and compliance by all, with measures and restrictions introduced, is essential.
The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (MITC), Ebrahim Patel, has provided details of the measures to be implemented to support industry, especially small businesses, and trade.[3] Trade-related measures will impact not only South Africa but also of course our trading partners and especially our neighbours in Africa. South Africa’s logistics, freight forwarding, wholesale and retail distribution services play an extremely important role in the food and essential goods supply chain in southern Africa and further into many other African countries.
List prices for goods essential to the containment of the virus have been introduced by National Treasury as well as flexibilities, to ease certain provisions in the Public Finance Management Act, to speed up procurement processes. Competition law provisions pertaining to cooperation and some concerted practices are suspended, so that cooperation across supply chains, in wholesale, retail and financial services, for example, can facilitate greater efficiencies and access to food, medical supplies and other essential products.
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