Democratic Alliance Shadow Minister of Health and party spokesperson Siviwe Gwarube said on Wednesday that the changes to the State of Disaster regulations announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa continue to hold the country back from a full recovery.

On Tuesday evening Ramaphosa announced the relaxation of lockdown regulations, following a meeting with premiers and mayors from all provinces. 

The Covid-19 requirement of wearing face masks outdoors has been lifted, however, they must still be worn in indoor spaces.

Indoor and outdoor venues can take up to 50% of their capacity and proof of vaccination must be enforced or else only 1 000 people and 2 000 people will be allowed indoors and outdoors respectively.

Sport gatherings, conferences and music performances will be allowed and the number of people allowed at a funeral will increase to 200, however, funerals are limited to two hours.

Aside from schools, a one-meter gap must still be maintained between people.

Travellers entering the country must show proof of vaccination or a PCR test and those entering and who want a vaccination, can get one from Wednesday.

Gwarube said this would help the tourism industry and other cross-border businesses recover.

However, she stated that the limits of 1 000 and 2 000 people at indoor and outdoor events would continue to strangle industries.

She argued that the number limits were completely arbitrary and were probably exceeded daily at many malls or markets.

The party is not satisfied with the concession that venues can host vaccinated or PCR negative people to half capacity.

Addressing the issue of mask-wearing at schools, Gwarube said it was an impediment to language and emotional development.

She said social distancing and other workplace rules would continue to harm the productivity of government and other services.

The DA still views the limitation of family visits to prisons to two non-contact visits a month as an ongoing cruelty.

Gwarube stated that the only measure the DA would support is the continuation of the Social Relief of Distress Grant.

Gwarube said the changes announced by the President did not go far enough.

“Despite some welcome changes, the persisting rules will harm jobs and increase poverty while providing no benefit at all,” she said.

The DA warned that it would take necessary action to ensure that every last restriction of the State of Disaster was overturned and that it would fight any attempt to make these permanent through regulations in the National Health Act or elsewhere.