Experts sound alarm over gatherings ahead of polls

HEALTH experts have cautioned against large gatherings ahead of the local government elections as the country braces itself for a possible rise in Covid-19 infections.

This year's local government elections will take place in a different environment. The pandemic will put a limit on big political rallies that often accompany the election season.

The presence of new variants, first identified in the UK and India, have raised concerns about a possible third wave of the pandemic.

South Africans head to the polls on October 27.

Wits Professor Shabir Madhi said mass gatherings would have an impact on the trajectory of the pandemic. He cautioned against the big political events and said the IEC should not allow any political indoor gatherings.

“Allowing for mass gatherings is what probably broke the camel’s back in India. This is something we should have learnt months ago. This data that mass gatherings are responsible for 80% of infections, has been available since October of last year,” Madhi warned.

“The IEC should not be allowing any gatherings indoors when it comes to campaigning. The president should actually make a stance that the ANC will not be engaging in any sort of those mass gathering because that is exactly what is going to result in further flair-ups of Covid-19 in the country.”

Dr Aslam Dasoo, from the Progressive Health Forum, shared similar remarks, warning that gatherings have proven to be a health concern.

“I think there needs to be a flexible and adaptable approach by the authorities and the president with respect to going ahead with the election while going through the surge.

“It is a very difficult situation and it needs a rational approach. All gatherings should be limited right now. That cannot be ignored by anyone,”

Dasoo said.

The IEC said it was up to political parties to ensure Covid-19 health protocols were adhered to at political gatherings. The commission said its Covid-19 protocol had been tested during the by-elections.

Under level 1 restrictions, gatherings are limited to 250 for indoor and 500 for outdoor events.

Meanwhile, political parties have provided mixed responses to whether their rallies would not be breeding grounds for super spreaders.

ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte said the party would ensure its campaigning sticks with protocols.

The DA said it was well prepared ahead of the elections. The party plans to host a virtual rally at the end of the month.

DA spokesperson Siviwe Gwarube said the party hopes the country's vaccination drive would have covered the most vulnerable ahead of October.

“If we are going to have an October election we are going to have to at least vaccinated the most vulnerable groups,” she said.

UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said his party was disappointed that the elections would go ahead. “The onus is on President Ramaphosa if he wants to go down having participated in the deaths of many who will be affected by the campaign,” Holomisa said.