ANC NEC agrees SA's economy cannot handle another hard lockdown

Thursday, January 07, 2021 at 4:17 PM by Samantha Riddle

- The ANC has held its first National Executive Committee meeting of 2021 ahead of its January 8 statement

- The ruling party's highest body has agreed not to impose another hard lockdown

- ANC members agreed that the nation's economy wouldn't survive another round of hard restrictions

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Speculation is high that South Africans will be facing another round of hard lockdown restrictions amid high Covid-19 infections.

Mainstream — The ANC's NEC has agreed that SA's economy cannot handle another hard lockdown. Image: Bloomberg
Source: Getty Images

The ANC's National Executive Committee has reportedly agreed the country cannot endure going back to hard lockdown.

Nomvula Mokonyane, head of organising in the party, confirmed during a briefing following the meeting commenting that:

"What was raised is that we all have to give the necessary support creating an environment that will not lead to a total shutdown of the economy. Meaning that we can't drive the country to a total shutdown unless otherwise we have created alternatives, alternatives that currently do not exist."

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Mokonyane says that the government needs to identify parts of the economy that contributes to high instances of infections.

The National Coronavirus Command Council recently held an emergency meeting just as the nation recorded over 20 000 mark with the Department of Health confirming 844 fatalities.

As for the ANC's January 8 celebrations this will be held virtually with the main event followed by a number of smaller celebrations in the build-up to Ramaphosa's address.

Mokonyane explained following the ANC's NEC gathering what citizens could expect from the ruling party:

"Provinces and regions throughout the country will be engaging in various social media watch parties ahead of the main address by Ramaphosa at 19:00. The main programme will be chaired by our national chairperson Gwede Mantashe from Luthuli House with the NEC, alliance partners and other fraternal parties, including invited guests and dignitaries, joining in virtually."