The official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday announced that it was suspending all political activity involving close human contact and called the ruling African National Congress’ (ANC) plans to go door-to-door to inform people about the COVID-19 pandemic “reckless”.
“In the face of increasing transmission risk of the Covid-19 virus, the Democratic Alliance has taken the decision across the country to pause all political activity which involves human-to-human contact or close proximity between people,” DA federal chairperson Ivan Meyer said.
“This pause, implying the cessation of party events and ground activity, is necessary to protect DA members and activists, and to avoid any chance of transmission of the virus through our work.”
Meyer stressed that no door-to-door political activity or party meetings would be allowed until further notice.
SA coronavirus cases spike
The decision comes as the confirmed infection toll in South Africa stood at 116 on Wednesday morning.
Meyer urged the ANC to scrap a door-to-door campaign to educate South Africans about the novel coronavirus.
“We are deeply concerned and bewildered that in this time of strict measures to stem the spread of COVID-19, the ANC has announced a new national door-to-door campaign. This highly reckless decision will put thousands of people at risk of transmission of the virus as ANC officials make direct close contact with residents,” Meyer said.
“We call today for the ANC to abandon this inexcusable decision, and commit to a pause in political activity too.”
The DA has also decided to postpone its policy conference that was due to be held in early April.
– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Desiree Erasmus
Source: The South African Read More
