DA to seek legal advice on challenging race criteria for Covid-19 relief
8 April 2020
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will today consult its lawyers to seek legal advice on the legality and constitutionality of the racialisation of government’s Covid-19 financial relief measures. This follows the announcement that the Department of Tourism will follow B-BBEE codes in allocating emergency relief for businesses affected by Covid-19, as well as a letter sent out by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries encouraging only black, coloured and Indian farmers to apply for assistance.
It is not only unconscionable that critical financial relief in this time of distress for thousands of businesses and commercial entities is racialised, it is most likely illegal too.
The DA will not allow the ANC to use this crisis to further divide our nation, and we will use every avenue available to us to fight for the right of all South Africans, black and white, to benefit from emergency assistance.
We will only overcome the virus and begin charting our country’s recovery if we are truly united as a nation. These measures by the Tourism and Agriculture Departments will only create division at a time when we should be fostering a spirit of togetherness.