S.Africa's main opposition contests virus lockdown rules in court

May 14, 2020

The continent's most industrialised economy went into a strict nationwide lockdown on March 27 to curb the spread of the new coronavirus.

POLITICS  HEALTH  VIRUS
 
South Africa's main opposition Democratic Alliance party was Thursday filing a legal challenge against some coronavirus lockdown rules imposed by the government, including a ban on e-commerce and a night curfew.
 
The continent's most industrialised economy went into a strict nationwide lockdown on March 27 to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, which has infected at more than 12,000 people and killed at least 219.
 
The shutdown was slightly eased at the start of May, with citizens allowed to exercise outdoors for three hours in the morning and some businesses authorised to partially resume operations.
 
A nighttime curfew has also been imposed.
 
"Today our lawyers will file papers in the High Court challenging the rationality of three separate lockdown-related issues: the night curfew, the ban on e-commerce and the restriction on exercise hours," said Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen.
 
"It is our opinion... that all three of these decisions should be immediately reversed, as there are no rational justifications."
 
The ruling African National Congress party did not immediately respond to AFP requests for comment.
 
Steenhuisen announced the DA's court challenge one day after President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation to say that confinement measures would only be eased further in less-affected areas by the end of this month.
 
The economic costs of the lockdown have stoked disagreement between political parties and the opposition has grown increasingly critical of the president's response to the outbreak.
 
South Africa's government is staggering the easing of confinement measures to try strike a balance between curbing the spread of COVID-19 and safeguarding livelihoods.
 
South Africa was already in recession before the coronavirus struck in March and the economy is now forecast to contract by more than six percent in 2020.
 

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