Parliament, Sunday, 12 April 2020 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to ignore calls from the Liquor Forum in Gauteng to sell liquor during the lockdown.
Dr Dhlomo said people who consume alcohol predispose themselves to become drunk. “A person who is under the influence of alcohol has a poor sense of judgement for the environment, space and time. This lockdown period does not need people who have poor sense of judgement,” said Dr Dhlomo.
Dr Dhlomo said the committee commends President Ramaphosa’s call which includes banning the sale of alcohol during the lockdown period. “The President should not give those who want to sell alcohol space to do so as that might predispose them to being exposed to the pandemic unaware.”
“The lockdown is a safe way that the President has called for where the sale of alcohol is not allowed. We urge the President not to heed the call of selling alcohol during the national state of disaster,” added Dr Dhlomo.
Furthermore, Dr Dhlomo said: “This is for the good of the country, for the control of the coronavirus, and the good for the control of any social ill.”
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, DR SIBONGISENI DHLOMO.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Ms Yoliswa Landu
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8203
Cell: 081 497 4694
E-mail: ylandu@parliament.gov.za
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