Author: Francois Francois Redelinghuys

The Solidarity Movement, including Solidarity and AfriForum, took a stand today by declaring that no further reasons exists for the current state of disaster, which has been in operation for about 22 months, to remain in force. This comes after the state of disaster was extended again by the government.

According to Solidarity Movement Chairperson Flip Buys, it seems that the pandemic is now entering an endemic phase. Furthermore, it appears that increased group immunity against Covid-19 can now be detected with the Omicron variant, resulting in less serious illness and fewer deaths. “The fact that the virus is now endemic means the virus won’t disappear, but we will have to learn to live with the virus. It also means that exceptional measures by the state, such as those that can be instituted under a state of disaster, are no longer necessary in an effort to control the virus,” Buys said.

According to Buys, the Movement is also very concerned about the state of schools in South Africa due to the restrictions that hamper education. “The fact that many schools are still unable to return to a normal way of functioning intensifies the concerns about the future of a whole generation of learners,” Buys said.

Both AfriForum and Solidarity will proceed with legal action in order to ask the courts to end the state of disaster.

According to Kallie Kriel, Chief Executive of AfriForum, the state of disaster poses a threat to freedom, as it gives the government extraordinary power to dramatically restrict civil liberties without subjecting such power to parliamentary oversight and decision-making in any way. “The fact that the state of disaster can be prolonged repeatedly without parliamentary approval is a serious violation of sound democratic principles,” Kriel said.

According to Solidarity CEO Dr Dirk Hermann, the current state of disaster creates major uncertainty for workers, companies and the economy in general, and it must therefore be terminated. “The state of disaster enables government to implement at short notice measures that affect the livelihood of businesses and workers. This sword hanging over the economy creates uncertainty that hampers capital formation and further expansion at a time when economic growth is crucially important,” Hermann said.

According to Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s campaign manager, the organisation will submit its court documents soon. “AfriForum has already taken on several of the government’s outrageous measures, including the curfew regulations, state quarantine camps and the ban on religious gatherings. The time has come for the state of disaster to be lifted in its entirety,” Broodryk said.

Hermann concluded by saying declarations that the state of disaster could not be terminated at short notice conveniently forget about the regulations that had been introduced and enforced “with immediate effect” under the state of disaster.

Further details regarding the proposed legal action will be announced soon.

At a media conference held today, the Solidarity Movement encouraged its supporters to intensify their level of alertness, to remain calm amid the riots that are plaguing certain parts of the country, and to join their local neighbourhood watch.

According to Flip Buys, chairperson of the Solidarity Movement, faction fighting within the ANC, which initially led to the looting spree, provided a platform for criminal elements to abuse the situation to steal and to loot. Buys called on law enforcement to restore order and to arrest offenders. According to Buys, the public should, however, not leave their safety and that of their families and communities just to the SAPS because there is much that they can do themselves within the framework of the law to intensify their own levels of preparedness. “If you can protect yourself and your family, you can also protect your neighbours. If you can protect your neighbours, you can jointly protect your community,” Buys added. Buys encouraged people to join one of AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches that have been established countrywide or to join other community structures.

Kallie Kriel, AfriForum’s chief executive, said organised communities need not be plunged into fear, but can remain calm in the knowledge that their safety is in their own hands. According to Kriel it is not a strange phenomenon for communities to take responsibility for their own safety as several communities in KwaZulu-Natal have done in recent days. In the past Afrikaners have also assumed responsibility for their own safety whenever necessary. “In recent years, AfriForum has invested a great deal of resources in the establishment of community safety structures and already runs 159 neighbourhood watches, has a network of control rooms, a nationwide radio network, 12 500 neighbourhood watch volunteers, an air wing with 53 drone pilots and well-trained staff and volunteers. Apart from this, AfriForum collaborates with a network of other neighbourhood watches, GPF structures, security companies and, in many places, with local police stations,” Kriel said.

According to AfriForum Head of Safety Colonel Jan Wessels, AfriForum has already, at the onset of the riots, put its existing community safety plans into operation by having AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches on standby. Wessels pointed out that AfriForum’s control rooms and its structures on the ground are monitoring the situation closely, that guidelines have been issued to AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches to further fine-tune their existing safety plans with the current situation in mind. Neighbourhood watches were asked to increase visibility and to assist each other and other role players where necessary. “AfriForum will not involve itself in conflicts on highways and at other prominent places but will focus all its attention on being ready and prepared within the framework of the law to help ensure the safety of neighbourhoods where we operate,” Wessels said.

To join one of AfriForum’s neighbourhood watches, please visit www.afriforumbuurtwag.co.za.

The Solidarity Movement also calls on members of the public to contribute to the Movement’s Crisis Fund in support of Solidarity Helping Hand in KwaZulu-Natal to enable it to make essential provisions available to communities. Please use this link to contribute: www.krisisfonds.co.za.

The Solidarity Research Institute found in a comprehensive scientific report that vaccines are an effective and safe way to end the Covid-19 pandemic. The report also supports people’s freedom to decide for themselves. Strong criticism is also levelled at the government’s central control of the vaccine program and consequently it was also found that the private sector should become involved on a major scale.

According to Solidarity Movement Chairperson Flip Buys, large numbers of the Solidarity Movement’s members and other South Africans will have to make a decision regarding vaccinations within the next few weeks. “We want to enable our members and other South Africans to make decisions in a responsible way. Covid-19 is hitting all of us hard and everyone is longing for an end to the pandemic. With all the opinions, fake news and political agendas doing the rounds, good scientific research is essential. From the findings in the report, we can encourage our members to get the vaccines, but on condition that everyone must make their decision in a responsible way and take their own unique circumstances into account. The data indicate one risk that for most people is much greater than the vaccines, and that is not to get the vaccine.”

According to the report, in which a proper international study was done, it was found that vaccines are indeed effective. In countries such as Israel, the United Kingdom and Hungary, there is a direct link between the administration of vaccines, a decrease in infections and in particular a decrease in hospitalisation and deaths. Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson are effective. It is also on the basis of findings in this report that the Solidarity Movement can neither recommend the Chinese vaccine SinoVac nor the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. The availability of existing data is insufficient, with the result that no conclusion can be drawn at present on the efficacy of these two vaccines

An in-depth investigation was conducted into data on reports of side effects, as stated by Connie Mulder, head of the Solidarity Research Institute. “Proper scientific research has been done and original data have been used so that inferences are watertight. It has been found that the vaccines are indeed safe to a large extent. Like other medications, there are side effects, but for most people the risk posed by Covid-19 is much higher than the risk of getting the vaccine.”

Mulder also said that none of the vaccines can provide total protection against Covid-19. However, they do provide comprehensive protection against serious symptoms and death. It is probably not necessary for children to be vaccinated but parents can seek good medical advice from doctors.

Data show that claims that large numbers of people die due to vaccination are simply not true. The risk for blood clots and cardio-related side effects is small. Most of the side effects reported are mild and similar to those of any other vaccine.
The researchers also found that it is important that individuals who are already experiencing health problems, are currently ill and who have previously experienced side effects from vaccines should first contact their doctor to find out whether it would be safe for them to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

According to AfriForum Chief Executive Kallie Kriel, those who want to make a choice should be able to do so. “The government’s centralisation of vaccines is causing a bottleneck in the vaccination process. The fact that the process is being monopolised is unacceptable. The private sector must on a large scale be involved at all levels of the value chain. Not only is it important that people should be able to choose whether they want to be vaccinated or not, but they should also be able to choose which vaccine they want to receive.”

According to Solidarity Chief Executive Dr Dirk Hermann, Solidarity’s members, like so many other South African citizens, are currently being hard hit by the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Our members are tired of lockdowns and want to get rid of it. Vaccination can definitely play a major role in getting out of the pandemic. Levels of confidence in the government are justifiably so very low. There is a fine line between trust in the government and trust in vaccines. The government abused its power during the lockdown, eroded freedoms and created a breeding ground for scepticism about vaccines.

“What we now have to do is to consider the facts. We encourage all to assess their circumstances, make their decision (in a responsible way) and to exercise their freedom of choice,” Hermann concluded.

Download the report here: http://soli.online/2yq

The Solidarity Movement today welcomed the Constitutional Court’s ruling in terms of which Jacob Zuma was found guilty of contempt of court and was sentenced to imprisonment of 15 months.

According to Flip Buys, chairperson of the Solidarity Movement, Jacob Zuma’s conviction is a first step to let justice prevail against a former president who has dragged the country to the brink of the abyss  although cases against him are still pending for decades of offences.

Buys furthermore said that although this ruling should be seen in a positive light, much still needs to be done to restore the confidence of South Africans. “The fact of the matter is that South Africa is still plagued by unprecedented high levels of corruption that have been evident as recently as last year with the shameless looting of funds destined for aid. The real test will depend on whether or not this political elite can also be prosecuted successfully,” Buys said.

Buys further stated that the response to the ruling does indeed reflect South Africans’ collective feelings about the ruling elite that are disregarding the law with impunity. “Hopefully, this could usher in an era in which more accountability is expected from politicians and government officials,” Buys said.

According to Buys, the Movement is however skeptical whether Zuma would hand himself over and if not, whether he would be arrested. “It is widely known that Zuma and his followers still have several supporters within the ruling party. If Zuma does not hand himself over, deliberate action must be taken to effect his arrest,” Buys concluded.

The Solidarity Movement today expressed its sincere condolences towards the Zulu royal family and the Zulu community after it was announced that His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini passed away this morning.

According to Flip Buys, chairperson of the Solidarity Movement, the Movement and AfriForum in particular maintained good relationships with the royal family in order to achieve mutual recognition and respect between different cultural communities in South Africa.

According to Buys, King Zwelithini played a significant role in the cultural expression and identity of the Zulu community, and continually also showed respect for other cultural communities in a diverse country.

“As a Movement we are saddened to hear of the death of King Zwelithini. The country and the Zulu people in particular are poorer because of his death,” Buys said.

The Solidarity Movement said today there is no longer any reason why the current level of the lockdown regulations should not be relaxed to level 1 tonight. This follows after it became known earlier today that President Ramaphosa will address the country again tonight.

According to Solidarity Movement Chairperson Flip Buys, the infection rate in the country has dropped to such an extent that it would be irrational to keep the country on the same lockdown level as it was at the peak of the second wave. “The logic behind a lockdown is to slow down the infection rate to such an extent that hospitals have enough capacity to handle the number of patients that need care. However, that no longer a risk because the number of cases has virtually halved, as was the trend during the first wave,” Buys said.

According to Buys, there is no longer any reason to tie down the economy and destroy sectors such as tourism and the liquor industry, which have already almost been brought to their knees, by extending the level 3 regulations.

Furthermore, Connie Mulder, head of the Solidarity Research Institute, argues that the government’s insistence on lockdown regulations as the only measure to combat the spread of the virus is very short-sighted and does not do much to slow down the spread of the virus. However, it does succeed in accelerating the public’s distrust of the government.

“By introducing lockdown regulations that come into effect immediately without consulting the public and the necessary industries, members of the public are encouraged to revise their confidence in the government’s ability to act responsibly and rationally.”

Buys emphasises that the time has now come to urgently relax the lockdown measures. “Our message is clear – open up the country and stop treating the public like children. The only thing worse than the public managing the crisis by themselves is the government continuously trying to do so,” Buys said.

“The Solidarity Movement believes that the economy, together with working healthily and education provided healthily, can be opened up in a healthy way,” Buys concluded.

The Solidarity Movement today said that the ANC’s harmful economic policy is the main threat for pensions. This remains the case whether or not the government has, for the time being, put its resolve to enforce prescribed assets on ice.

The Movement also stated that especially asset managers should still remain particularly alert and act in the best interests of their members.

This comes after Minister Tito Mboweni in his MTBPS speech was the first to state that the government would try to make it easier for pension funds to invest in government projects on a voluntary basis. Subsequently, the Head of Infrastructure and Investment in the Presidency Dr Kgosientso Ramokgopa also alluded to convincing pension funds to invest in government projects.

According to Flip Buys, chairperson of the Solidarity Movement, it is understandable that South Africans are concerned about the future of their pension funds. “It is common knowledge that the government is facing a fiscal crisis due to, among other things, continuing mismanagement and corruption.”

“Pension funds are the proverbial pot of gold that could be invested in local projects to help stimulate the economy. The government has an extremely poor track record when it comes to the delivery of projects. To accept that this trend would change overnight and that such projects would now mean a significant return for pension fund members is mere wishful thinking,” Buys emphasised.

According to Buys, the ANC’s harmful economic policy is still a major millstone around the neck of the economy. “If the ruling party does not part with its harmful ideas, including expropriation without compensation, an excessively high government wage bill and persistent bailouts to obsolete state entities, the economy will keep on reeling,” Buys said.

The Solidarity Movement sent a letter of warning to President Ramaphosa and the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, cautioning them that any tightening of the existing lockdown restrictions would be ineffective and devastating for the economy and the citizens of the country.

It is expected that President Ramaphosa will address the nation early next week, after considering recommendations in a report by the health department.

“In the past, the government enforced measures that were ambiguous, impractical and irrational. We caution President Ramaphosa that we will challenge any further irrational and unreasonable measures in court,” said Flip Buys, chairperson of the Solidarity Movement.

“Fear of a second wave of the pandemic is constantly provoked, and every slight increase in numbers receives prominent attention. The reality is that the average rate of positive tests remains below 10% of those tested, while it was 30% when South Africa reached its peak,”  Buys said.

“Positive cases can easily be manipulated by increasing the number of tests in order to give the impression of a second wave. However, measuring the relationship between testing and positive cases would actually be the true measurement,” Buys said.

The Solidarity Movement strongly believes that drastic lockdown measures would not make a tangible difference in the number of positive cases. However, there will be decisive, tangible economic consequences due to drastic measures.

•    In the second quarter, 2,2 million people lost their jobs, and a significant number of them are the most vulnerable in South Africa.
•    The expected deficit in tax collection will amount to more than R300 billion.
•    The GDP fell by 16,4% in one quarter, which represents a 51% year-on-year decline.

The Solidarity Movement strongly advises the government not to introduce tighter lockdown measures, and the necessary legal steps will be taken should any absurd and unreasonable measures be introduced.

Three Dutch members of parliament reiterated their concerns about farm attacks and the ANC government’s planned expropriation without compensation in a series of questions put to the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stef Blok. This comes after the Dutch parliament last year adopted a motion that expresses opposition to expropriation without compensation. In terms of this motion, Minister Blok had to convey the Netherlands’ disapproval of this policy to the South African government.

For the past two years, the Solidarity Movement has been actively calling on governments in Europe to put more pressure on the South African government. According to Jaco Kleynhans, head of international liaison at the Solidarity Movement, the 12 questions to minister Blok were raised by two MPs of the centrist Christian-Democratic Appeal (CDA), Martijn van Helvert and Jaco Geurts, and the leader of the Reformed Political Party (SGP), Kees van der Staaij. Last year’s motion was tabled by the CDA and the SGP, and was also supported by the ruling party of Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), as well as the Christian Union, 50Plus, Forum for Democracy and the Party for Freedom.

In the questions addressed to Minister Blok the three members of parliament seek clarity on the Dutch government’s liaison with Pres. Ramaphosa on farm murders and expropriation of land. They also appealed to the minister to consider reporting farm attacks to the United Nations’ Human Rights Council.

According to Kleynhans, there is support for good relations between South Africa and the Netherlands among a majority of Dutch politicians. “During my six visits to the Netherlands over the past 18 months and in discussions with politicians from across the entire political spectrum it is clear that Dutch politicians and business people want to further the strong relationship between the two countries, even to expand it. However, there are serious concerns about the decay of government, corruption, safety (including farm attacks) and property rights. Various Dutch companies are doing business in South Africa and are considering further expansion but the planned expropriation without compensation will derail such investment”.

Our message to politicians in the twelve countries in Europe with whom we have recently engaged is that serious pressure must be exerted on the South African government”. The Solidarity Movement is also canvassing support from parties in the European Parliament in the hope that the European Union will take a stand on the situation in South Africa.

There is no longer any justification for continuing a state of disaster, and the shift to level 1 of the national lockdown is too little, too late. The Solidarity Movement will take legal action if the state decides to extend it again on 15 October.

Flip Buys, Chairman of the Solidarity Movement argues: “The continued lockdown already turned into a much larger disaster than the Covid-19 pandemic itself, threatening the livelihoods of millions of people. Coercion by the state should be abandoned immediately in favour of personal responsibility for people’s health.”

According to the Movement, a state of disaster only has the right to exist if the state can manage the effect of the disaster better than its citizens and businesses. “We are past this point and need to start moving away from state control to civic responsibility,” said Buys.

Werner Human, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Solidarity, explained the following: “There is absolutely data to support the line of thought that the only way to fight the threat of a virus, is to place a country as a whole subject to a quasi-autocracy.”

Solidarity states that even with the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the state failed to manage the pandemic effectively. According to Solidarity, they were reckless in managing the economy and their cadres abused the state of disaster to loot.

“The state of disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act, has recently been renewed for the sixth consecutive month despite the drastic decrease in the impact of the virus, as well as the drastic increase in the harmful impact of the lockdown. Level 1 still leaves a lot of uncertainty and places an unfair burden on too many people,” said Human.

“It is urgent that the country returns to a healthy normal, so that the work to rebuild the country can be undertaken again. The state’s latest plan to get the economy back on track will lead nowhere if confidence in the country’s management is not restored quickly. Trust is the only real stimulus that will get the country out of its current dead-end. For that, certainty regarding policies, fiscal discipline, a clean state, competent country administration and legal certainty is essential. Without tackling actual corruption, mismanagement and policies that lead to the country’s downgrading even before the pandemic, economic plans will only remain on paper,” continued Buys.

“Job creation will only occur if deeper lying reformation is brought about, and if socialist plans and racial prescriptions are abandoned in favour of proven policies that promote economic growth,” concluded Buys.