Overview
We, social justice practitioners and activists from civil society and the academic community gathered under the auspices of the Law Trust Chair in Social Justice, came together to discuss and assess the social justice and implications of the Coronavirus COVID-19 (Covid-19) pandemic and the policy responses to it. The exercise also considered constitutional compliance of the policies in question, comprising Regulations, Directions, Guidelines, Statements and By-laws issued by government under the Disaster Management Act 57, of 2002.
Our intervention is motivated by concern over the global health threat posed by COVID-19, and the implications of this pandemic and policy responses to it for social justice, as reflected in equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms, the rule of law and peace.
The purpose of the dialogue was to identify, review and assess the policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, noting what has worked, not worked and why, and to emerge with proposals designed to engage key sectors of society for more socially just responses and outcomes.