We would prefer a gradual phasing out of the current lockdown over the coming weeks as opposed to a continuation of the severe and economically-crippling regulations we currently see. - @jsteenhuisen

https://www.da.org.za/2020/04/a-lockdown-extension-will-create-an-economic-disaster

#CyrilRamaphosa

We believe it is a great mistake to think in terms of lives versus livelihoods. This is a false dilemma. Rather the difficult trade-offs to be made are between lives lost or damaged by Covid-19 & lives lost/damaged by the drastic measures to contain its spread. #CyrilRamaphosa

We have been working tirelessly with industry experts, international best practice models, and health policy specialists to compile a lockdown grid which outlines various levels of regulation applicable to different stages of coronavirus infection in South Africa

#CyrilRamaphosa

We will be finalising this model with our Shadow Cabinet tomorrow, following which we will submit it to the President for consideration. There is no binary choice between a loss of life to coronavirus and a loss of life to the poverty.

#CyrilRamaphosa

While we finalise our considerations to the President, in the meantime the following are essential amendments which need to be enacted to ensure the sustainability and credibility of the lockdown, which relies on buy-in from citizens:

We must ensure that in our attempt to protect our country from the coronavirus outbreak, we also protect the livelihoods of our citizens who will be worse off coronavirus-free, but unemployed as a result. - @jsteenhuisen

#CyrilRamaphosa