By Theolin Tembo Aug 13, 2020
Share this article:
Cape Town - Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has warned that they expect over 100 000 people to lose their jobs in the provinces tourism sector as a direct result of the Covid-19 lockdown.
Winde says they expect employment to drop by 8.4% in 2020, and then to only grow by 1.9% in 2021. The informal sector is also expected to shed a futher 38 000 jobs in the province this year.
The Western Cape cabinet and provincial heads of department were left speechless following the detailed report presented by the Head of Policy and Strategy, Dr Hildegarde Fast, this past weekend on what this second pandemic would look like.
Winde said it was a sobering analysis that left the entire room silent.
The premier penned an open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa where he share the stats in the report but he also wanted to make sure that Western Cape residents see it.
"We need to put a face to this pandemic, and we need to understand that it is equally dangerous and deadly.
Winde said his cabinet heard the following:
Winde then went on to share how the Western Cape would specifically be affected:
The premier also shared how according to the report, the education sector has been affected up to 7 August 2020:
The consequences of this on the future of our children is significant. If youth increasingly stay out of school, it increases the risk of dropping out and the risk of not completing matric.
This will affect a young persons chances of getting a skilled job after leaving school, Winde said.
The premier also explained that there has been a real impact on many peoples mental health.
During this pandemic, 60% of people in South Africa have indicated that they are stressed, 46% are scared, and 29% are lonely. The most vulnerable during lockdown are particularly at risk due to loss of income, Winde said.
We expect to see continued levels of anxiety, depression and substance abuse as a result of this in future. This will result in a loss of productivity, an increase in child-headed households, school dropouts and exposure to physical and emotional violence.
He gave a further explanation on how the second pandemic will impact the healthcare system:
This is the face of the second pandemic ravaging our province and country, and one which we must also fight and win against.
The Western Cape Government will be doing all it can to ensure we address these challenges. But it will become harder to achieve if people continue to lose their jobs.
Winde said that the only real option now is to prevent a jobs bloodbath, and to allow all businesses that can open safely to do so.
This does not mean we stop the fight against Covid-19. That fight continues and will require every single person in our country to behave differently as we adapt to this new normal.
It does mean, however, that we have to now focus on the economy and saving jobs to much a greater degree.
Cape Argus
More here:
Winde shares how 'second pandemic' will hit SA in open letter to Ramaphosa - IOL
