TLU SA concerned about challenges because of continued lockdown-
TLU SA is thankful that the government now accepts the essence of the suggestions about the lockdown the organisation made. The onus now lies mainly on South Africans to act responsibly to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The financial impact of the prolonged lockdown was, however, too big for many companies to continue.
“The economy already took a massive knock,” says Mr Louis Meintjes, the president of TLU SA. “Many companies will not be able to carry the extra financial strain of implementing compulsory hygiene measures. The drastic decline in the financial ability of consumers will lead to a passive opening of markets since there is a lack of spendable funds.
“Every little piece of economic stimulation is now essential,” he says. “That is why the continued ban on tobacco products does not make any sense.”
We foresee various challenges for specifically the agricultural sector as soon as more industries start opening.
Electricity supply – the more considerable demand for electricity will most likely lead to load-shedding;
Fuel supply – refineries of fuel companies scaled down during lockdown. The demand for diesel before harvesting could become problematic if the suppliers cannot deliver fuel in time;
Food distribution – the bigger the demand for food in shops and soup kitchens, the more crowding. Opening farmers markets and more trading points directly from farmers will contribute to more effective social distancing.
“We are further concerned about the conduct of the SAPS in some cases,” says Mr Meintjes. “They should instead support the hungry and poor, then making war against them.
“It is also imperative that all support measures are transparent and adheres to good audit rules. We hear too many complaints of corruption.”
It saddens TLU SA that churches are not allowed to play their role. In these depressing times, their spiritual support is of critical importance.
“What is important now,” he says, “is that everyone should put down their heads and work very hard to get the economy going again.”
TLU SA bekommerd oor uitdagings as gevolg van volgehoue inperking
TLU SA is dankbaar dat die kern van die voorstelle wat die organisasie tot dusver oor die inperkingmaatreëls gemaak het, nou deur die regering aanvaar word. Die onus lê nou grootliks op die bevolking van Suid-Afrika om self verantwoordelik te wees om die verspreiding van COVID-19 te beperk.
Die finansiële impak van die verlengde inperking was vir verskeie besighede egter reeds te groot om voort te gaan.
“Die ekonomie het reeds baie seergekry,” sê mnr. Louis Meintjes, die president van TLU SA. “Baie besighede sal nie die verdere finansiële las kan dra om die verpligte higiëne maatreëls te implementeer nie. Verbruikers se finansiële vermoë het drasties afgeneem en daarom sal die markte as gevolg van gebrek aan besteebare fondse baie stadig ontsluit.
“Elke stukkie ekonomiese stimulasie gaan vorentoe broodnodig wees,” sê hy. “Daarom maak die volgehoue beperking op tabakprodukte nie sin nie.”
Intussen sal verskeie nuwe uitdagings veral die landbou beïnvloed sodra meer bedrywe begin oopmaak.
Elektrisiteitsvoorsiening – die groter vraag na elektrisiteit van bedrywe sal waarskynlik tot beurtkrag lei;
Brandstofvoorsiening – die raffinaderye van brandstofmaatskappye het gedurende die inperking afgeskaal. Die voorsiening van diesel net voor die strooptyd kan problematies raak indien die verskaffers nie vinnig genoeg op die nodige vraag kan lewer nie;
Voedselverspreiding – hoe groter die vraag na voedsel by plekke soos winkels en sopkombuise, hoe meer samedromming sal daar wees. Die oopstel van boeremarkte en meer aankooppunte direk van boere sal bydra tot meer effektiewe sosiale verspreiding van mense.
“Ons is verder steeds bekommerd oor hoe die SAPD in baie gevalle optree,” sê mnr. Meintjes. “Hulle moet die honger mense sonder inkomste eerder bystaan as om teen hulle oorlog te maak.
“Dit is veral belangrik dat alle hulpmaatreëls deursigtig moet wees en volledig aan aanvaarbare ouditreëls onderhewig moet wees. Daar kom te veel klanke van korrupsie na vore.”
TLU SA betreur dit dat die kerke nie toegelaat word om hulle rol te kan speel nie. In hierdie neerslagtige tye is hul geestelike ondersteuning van kritiese belang.
“Wat nou belangrik is,” sê hy, “is dat almal skouer aan die wiel moet sit om die ekonomie so goed soos wat dit moontlik is weer aan die gang te kry.”
