Last night our president struggled to put on his mask in front of millions of television viewers. It was funny, but I looked at it in a philosophical way. We all wear masks; some are good at hiding the shame and pain while others wear their hearts on their sleeves. It’s a fact that most of us put on a mask to protect us from life’s harsh realities while others are stronger in facing the truth. As the poet E. E. Cummings wrote, “The greatest battle we face as human beings is the battle to protect our true selves from the self the world wants us to become.”
From this morning’s reactions on social media, we can all agree that South Africans love their president and his mask. President Ramaphosa has announced a strategy to classify provinces, districts and metros on a five-level risk scale. Level one carries the lowest and level five, the highest risk level. He also announced that the country would move to Level 4 as of 1 May. Cigarettes will also be permitted but bars, shebeens, theatres and cinemas will remain closed.
The impact of COVID-19 on our psyche is severe. During the lockdown, many women, men and children are stuck at home with their abusers. The number of cases reported since the beginning of the lockdown is scary. The right thing to do is to help someone who needs our help. Call the Stop Gender-Based Violence Helpline on 0800 150 150.
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#COVID19
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