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The DA in the Western Cape joins Premier Alan Winde in calling for the complete removal of Covid restrictions ahead of the upcoming President’s Coordinating Council (PCC) meeting tomorrow morning. These restrictions are not only unnecessary for public health, but are damaging to the livelihoods of the thousands who work in the sporting and cultural sectors.

The PCC meeting will take place against the backdrop of reports that national Health Minister Joe Phaahla has recommended that many restrictions be done away with, including those which restrict the capacity of gatherings such as sporting fixtures and organised events. According to a leaked memo, Minister Phaahla has realised what we have known for a long time: that the current restrictions are unnecessary, and have little impact on rates of death and hospitalisation due to COVID 19. I have urged the President to lift these restrictions in the past; I now urge him to take the advice of his own health minister.

The lifting of restrictions cannot come soon enough. This past weekend saw the United Rugby Championship final take place with greatly reduced attendance as a result of these restrictions. If they are not lifted, a similar fate will befall many major sporting events scheduled to take place in the Western Cape in the next few months. These include the Wales-South Africa rugby fixture on 16 July, the Sevens Rugby World Cup in September, the Hockey Masters World Cup in October, and several other events, including the Formula E Cape Town Grand Prix and Netball World Cup, taking place next year. The removal of these restrictions is therefore a key component in getting the Province’s economy back on track.

I therefore call on the President to heed the calls of Premier Winde to lift his unnecessary and damaging regulations, and I look forward to hearing the outcome of the meeting tomorrow.

Issued by Gillion Bosman, MPP - DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Cultural Affairs and Sport