The Eastern Cape provincial government welcomed the decision of the Gauteng High Court to dismiss a court application to declare government’s decision to close beaches in the province unconstitutional.
“This application was lodged by the Kouga Local Municipality, Great Brak River Business Forum, and Louis Cook,” said EC govt spokesperson, Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha.
“Based on the rationale of our decision to have beaches in our province closed during the festive season, based on the fact that the argument by the applicants lacked rationality and the fact that their court action was nothing but a political campaign, we knew that their argument would be dead on arrival.
“The decision of the court affirms not only the constitutionality of our decision as government to close our beaches in order to protect our people from contracting the virus, but also sends a strong message to any person who wants to undermine this decision.”
Sicwetsha added that now “that this matter is behind us, we will work together with all institutions of government, including Kouga Municipality and our social partners to keep our beaches closed so that we can continue protecting the people of our province.
“We all have lot of work to do in this regard and there is no time to waste on political pranks because they do not have interests of our people. Let us all protect the lives of our people and not try to gamble with them.”
He said that the provincial government will continue providing financial support to local businesses affected by COVID-19, including businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector.
“We want to warn members of the public who are planning to gather next to the rivers, dams and streams in our province during the festive season to refrain from that because such gatherings are illegal and have been prohibited,” Sicwetsha explained.
“Our law enforcement agencies will be on the lookout for those, who will be gathering next to our rivers, dams and streams.”