State of Disaster could end SOONER – here’s what the health minister says

While there are warnings of a fifth wave of COVID-19 infections in June, like many other countries, South Africa is slowly phasing in a post-COVID-19 environment, as evidenced by the fact that most of the restrictions have been eased and rules on how to manage positive cases have been adjusted. Phaahla says as government, they are ready to enter a new phase of the pandemic.

NCCC TO BE BRIEFED ON STATE OF DISASTER ALTERNATIVES

Dr Joe Phaahla says for now, a number of departments are considering alternative measures which would essentially replace the State of Disaster – they’ve already gotten the ball rolling and could make submissions to the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) as early as next week.

“The National Health Department is leading in that regard. We are working on our health regulations, making sure that we have enough protection measures through the National Health Act and its regulations to replace the Disaster Management Act,” Phaahla said in a media briefing on Thursday, 24 February 2022.

This would pave the way for President Cyril Ramaphosa to officially end the State of Disaster, as he had indicated he would during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) earlier this month.