The Democratic Alliance’s “Blue Book” of comprehensive COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)
In a national emergency like this, it is encouraging to see South Africans all putting their heads together, regardless of politics, to do whatever they can to defeat the coronavirus.
In this spirit, my shadow cabinet and I have just presented the Democratic Alliance’s “Blue Book” of comprehensive COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) measures to government. This book is a wide-ranging collection of possible solutions to the many challenges we will no doubt face as a country in the coming months.
We have shared some of the solutions with you already and begun seeing progress…
There is, however, much more that can and must be done! For example, what can we do to keep our kids learning if they can’t go back to school after the holidays? Can we broadcast lessons over the TV or radio? Can we at least make a plan to feed learners who are going hungry without school lunches?
With worrying reports of the army humiliating and degrading citizens, who allegedly weren’t abiding by the lockdown’s rules, is it possible to better protect the civil liberties of all South Africans during this lockdown by starting an ad hoc oversight committee in Parliament, that can keep the police and army in check. (The DA has set up a hotline for you to report the police or army if you need to. You can email or whatsapp 067 977 9324.)
“Our Blue Book” is full of ideas and we hope that government will go over them with an open mind so that we can get many more of them implemented!
You can read our ideas over here, and please be sure to tune in to Friday’s Coronacast at 2pm over Facebook so that you can join the discussion. I’ll update you on what’s being done to defeat the coronavirus and answer your questions too.
Tuesday’s episode featured a labour law expert who had lots of advice for people in tricky situations at work. If you didn’t manage to watch it live, you can find a recording here.
Keep pushing through this difficult time that will go down in history. We will get through it. Stay home and stay safe.