New Lockdown needed

People are still suffering from the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns, loss of income being one of the biggest problems. People are starving, they cannot pay for basic services or their rent. People are also suffering from lockdown fatigue and are not being vigilant or exercising self-discipline anymore, especially as it is the holiday season. However, we are now being hit with a second wave with a new variant of COVID-19 and our hospitals are full. As hard and daunting as an increase in lockdown regulations may seem, it is vital in order to enforce social distancing and save lives. It is clear we cannot rely on individuals to do the right thing.

The government needs to put a new lockdown in place and to implement regulations that not only improve people's safety, but also provide for the consequences of such a lockdown.

The LAND Party proposes the following to the government :

1. Government must place a moratorium on the payment of taxes (PAYE, VAT etc), rent, water, gas, and electricity for companies and no evictions must be allowed at all.

2. Pubs, Clubs, and Restaurants must close and only be allowed to sell take-away food. None must be allowed to sell liquor.

3. Liquor sales and consumption should be banned until the numbers start decreasing.

4. Release non-violent prisoners.

5. Strictly ban all religious or any form of gatherings.

6. Government must introduce mobile clinics. Also, delivery of all chronic medication to the patients.

7. Retail stores must deliver food and household items to avoid large number of consumers in the shops.

8. Give free sanitizers and masks to the previously disadvantage communities and poor households.

9. No employer must be allowed to fire or take disciplinary measures against their employees during this pandemic. They can be suspended with full pay until a hearing can take place.

10. ESKOM and municipalities must connect electricity to those who have had their electricity cut off. Municipalities must be prevented from applying an auxiliary to pre-paid electricity purchases.

11. Government must assist with food aid to the families who are struggling, suffering, and have no source of income. This should be done by sending vouchers to the municipality that community organisations can distribute (not political parties or councillors). Government must also raise social grants for pensioners and people with disabilities to R5000 and child support grants to R1000 per child.

12. BRICS partners must avail Sputnik V as soon as possible for those most susceptible: men, obese people, people living with diabetes, and people with hypertension as these groups are the most vulnerable groups of our population. After the most vulnerable have been treated all citizens must get the vaccine.

This needs to be implemented as a matter of urgency and not delayed simply because it is Christmas tomorrow.

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