The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] notes the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on the decision to easy regulations of adjusted Alert Level 1 of COVID-19 as part of government’s effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

The President announced that the decision to easy regulations was done to enter a new phase in the management of the pandemic following four waves of infections with fewer people now becoming severely ill, requiring hospitalisations, and fewer deaths as a result of some form of immunity either through vaccination or previous infections. 

As NEHAWU, we welcome this positive development in easing regulations as informed by scientific evidence to mitigate and contain the pandemic whilst ensuring that the country resumes full economic activity and in the process work towards rebuilding the country. For the past two years, COVID-19 has undoubtedly wreaked havoc beyond any measure and we have had to endure the devastation brought about this pandemic.

We further welcome the announcement that the National State of Disaster will be lifted as soon as public comments on the health regulations published have been complemented. In this regard, as NEHAWU, we will be making our comments on those health regulations, especially having had first-hand experience of the pandemic with our members and workers playing an instrumental role in managing and containing the pandemic.

Whilst we welcome the easing of regulations, we however still need to be cautious, not let our guards down and be caught up by complacence as COVID-19 has not ended. In this regard, we call on all our people not to be complacent and continue to practise non-pharmaceutical interventions to protect themselves.

As NEHAWU, we continue encouraging people to vaccinate. These vaccines have contributed greatly in protecting people from severe illnesses, hospitalisations and deaths.

Lastly, we call our people to continue wearing masks, sanitise their hands and to observe social distancing.

END

Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat

Zola Saphetha (General Secretary) at 082 558 5968; 

December Mavuso (Deputy General Secretary) at 082 558 5969; 

Lwazi Nkolonzi (NEHAWU National Spokesperson) at 081 558 2335 or email: lwazin@nehawu.org.za