SOUTH Africa’s state of disaster laws should be changed so that they cannot be extended indefinitely without any parliamentary oversight, or an opportunity for effective public challenge, says business group Sakeliga.
The group was commenting on the proposed Disaster Management Amendment Bill which is undergoing a consultation process in parliament this week.
The government has relied on the state of disaster to introduce and give effect to the lockdown restrictions used to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic over the last two years.
However, Act has faced criticism from various sectors of society for giving the national government wide-ranging and near-limitless power over the lives of citizens, with little to no oversight from parliament.
The amendment bill acknowledges this issue and also that the Disaster Management Act does not currently provide adequate legislative accountability and oversight over the regulations published in terms of it. This includes the duration of
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