Today is like a rebirth for the country.
Besides the fact that many more people are returning to work and some Grade 12s and sevens are returning to school, we also start a brand new
season, a new month and a new week under a new Lockdown level.
It’s like we are all slowly emerging from one long, collective hibernation.
The saints and the sinners both got some appeasement under the new Level 3.
Those who have been drying out, are able to go get their favourite alcoholic beverages, while places of worship are able to accommodate 50 congregants or less as of today.
REOPEN: Grade 7s and matrics are expected back at schools
As could be expected, the peanut gallery has been abuzz all week long with commentary.
Most of it angry rants from those who believe they know better.
But occasionally there’s a bit of sense that shines through.
Like the fact that some people are questioning the wisdom of allowing places of worship to re-open, while other gathering venues remain shut.
For example casinos, restaurants, clubs and of course sporting and other events are still prohibited until further notice.
I have been trying my best to be very supportive of the government’s handling of the pandemic, because I believe in a uniform message with clear information that tries to steer us away from panic.
That doesn’t mean that I have always agreed with every single decision that the president and his team have made.
But I also accept that that is one of the dynamics of being part of a democracy; the fact that I won’t always be 100% satisfied with the leadership.
The fact that I can’t go have a braai with my family, but I can attend church with them on Sunday, doesn’t make sense to me at first.
But that’s until I realise that we are less likely to take hygiene precautions in a social setting than we are when visiting a church that would probably have thought of how best to keep everyone safe.
Like I’ve said before; no matter what decisions are taken, there will always be critics.
But what we must constantly remind ourselves of is that our
government is also learning as we go through this.
So of course they may make
mistakes, which the president has admitted, and has undertaken to correct when they do.
The fact is during this lockdown I have come to appreciate that I can’t even keep all five people in my home consistently happy.
So how the heck is the president going to keep all 58 million South Africans happy?