Covid-19 command council to live on, says Cyril Ramaphosa
Several groups have challenged the constitutionality of the decisions taken by the NCCC over the past two years
30 May 2022 - 10:42
by Kyle Zeeman
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
President Cyril Ramaphosa. File picture: JAIRUS MMUTLE/GCIS
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the national coronavirus command council (NCCC) will continue to meet, despite the state of disaster over the pandemic being lifted.
The council was initiated in March 2020 in response to the global Covid-19 pandemic. It consists of several ministers and stakeholders.
In his address to the nation at the beginning of the national state of disaster, Ramaphosa said the council would “meet three times a week to co-ordinate all aspects of our extraordinary emergency response”.
It made several controversial decisions, including bans on the sale of alcohol and tobacco products.
After 750 days, the national state of disaster was lifted in April. However, Ramaphosa said the council would live on.
In response to a written parliamentary question from DA MP Dean Macpherson, Ramaphosa said the council would remain as a committee within the cabinet.
He said the council did not depend on the national state of disaster to exist.
“The NCCC continues to perform this function since, although the national state of disaster has been lifted, the Covid-19 pandemic is unfortunately not yet over,” Ramaphosa said.
He explained how the council will work.
“The NCCC was established as a committee of the cabinet by the cabinet in its meeting of March 15 2020 to co-ordinate the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. The NCCC makes recommendations to the cabinet on measures necessary to manage the pandemic.
“As a cabinet committee — which, like all other cabinet committees, was established to support the work of the cabinet in whichever form the executive deems most practical or useful — the existence of the NCCC is not dependent on a national state of disaster being in operation.”
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Your Covid-19 questions answered
Covid-19 command council to live on, says Cyril Ramaphosa
Several groups have challenged the constitutionality of the decisions taken by the NCCC over the past two years
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the national coronavirus command council (NCCC) will continue to meet, despite the state of disaster over the pandemic being lifted.
The council was initiated in March 2020 in response to the global Covid-19 pandemic. It consists of several ministers and stakeholders.
In his address to the nation at the beginning of the national state of disaster, Ramaphosa said the council would “meet three times a week to co-ordinate all aspects of our extraordinary emergency response”.
It made several controversial decisions, including bans on the sale of alcohol and tobacco products.
After 750 days, the national state of disaster was lifted in April. However, Ramaphosa said the council would live on.
In response to a written parliamentary question from DA MP Dean Macpherson, Ramaphosa said the council would remain as a committee within the cabinet.
He said the council did not depend on the national state of disaster to exist.
“The NCCC continues to perform this function since, although the national state of disaster has been lifted, the Covid-19 pandemic is unfortunately not yet over,” Ramaphosa said.
He explained how the council will work.
“The NCCC was established as a committee of the cabinet by the cabinet in its meeting of March 15 2020 to co-ordinate the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. The NCCC makes recommendations to the cabinet on measures necessary to manage the pandemic.
“As a cabinet committee — which, like all other cabinet committees, was established to support the work of the cabinet in whichever form the executive deems most practical or useful — the existence of the NCCC is not dependent on a national state of disaster being in operation.”
TimesLIVE
Ramaphosa commits to ‘climate proofing’ government to improve response to disasters
Defence minister demands action over R30m wasted on Cuban Covid-19 drug
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Health department defends management of expert advice on Covid-19
Evidence piles up that Covid advice was ignored
New Covid rules for travellers fly in the face of scientific advice
Brewers aim to pre-empt any new booze sales ban
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.