As people tap into illicit markets, the government loses revenue that could make healthcare easier amid Covid-19
Allowing restaurants to serve a couple of drinks to patrons who order a meal would almost certainly not place a significant burden on our hospitals, and would be consistent with what most overseas countries are doing.
Similarly, smokers are not likely to place a significant burden on hospitals, or to be at a significantly higher risk of dying than people who recently gave up, and can, in any event, easily purchase cigarettes on the black market. Consequently, one can hardly be blamed for thinking that some of our leaders are receiving kickbacks from illicit cigarette manufacturers.
Suffice it to say that if the government genuinely wanted to save lives it would use some of the tax it received from the sale of alcohol and cigarettes to buy ventilators and masks, and to employ more doctors and nurses. On this point, one notes that the BBC recently reported that a Port Elizabeth field hospital is only using about 30 of its 1,200 beds due to a shortage of essential staff and oxygen.
Imagine the good we could be doing with all the money the government is allowing to go down the drain. Sadly, the government does not explain its decisions to us little people unless forced to by our courts, and we must therefore look for solace in the fact that elections cannot be delayed indefinitely.JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an e-mail with your comments. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Send your letter by e-mail to [email protected].
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
EDITORIAL: Covid-19 will not make us kick the habitBut Covid-19 is building online shopping habits that will stick, and it would be foolish for firms to pay little attention to their e-commerce offering
Read more »
ANTHONY BUTLER: Predictions not rosy about SA in a post-Covid worldEconomic crisis will weaken Cyril Ramaphosa’s position ahead of ANC 2022 elective conference
Read more »
ANTHONY BUTLER: Predictions not rosy about SA in a post-Covid worldEconomic crisis will weaken Cyril Ramaphosa’s position ahead of ANC 2022 elective conference
Read more »
PETER BRUCE: Ramaphosa should have put his name on SA’s IMF letterThe president needs to demonstrate that he will do everything necessary to halt a slide into debt
Read more »
Nigerian widow alleges cop raped her for not wearing face maskA 32-year-old Nigerian widow has alleged that a policeman abducted her and took her to a guest house where he raped her at gunpoint for not wearing a face mask. lockdown
Read more »
'This is not what I signed up for' - Abel Tau quits DA, joins Mashaba movementAbel Tau on Thursday said that he had joined Herman Mashaba’s The People’s Dialogue and that he would also be part of his new soon to be launched political party in August.
Read more »