Liquor Traders want immediate scrapping of state of disaster

It's welcomed the relaxation of some major Covid-19 measures - including the scrapping of outdoor mask-wearing.

But spokesperson Lucky Ntimane says the country's had to abide by two years of pandemic rules and government needs to take a serious look at lifting all restrictions. 

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"We have always maintained that such an approach had outlived its usefulness and only sought to concentrate power on the president who was treading the thin line of dictatorship and running the country by decree with no checks and balances provided for in a parliamentary system which the state of disaster by design sought to circumvent.

"The removal of the state of disaster must not just be a talk, it must be followed by action and urgently."

Ntimane says they haven't seen a spike in trauma-related cases linked to alcohol.

During Tuesday night's address, President Cyril Ramaphosa said they'd lift the state of disaster once they've received public comment on the new health regulations.

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Meanwhile, health activist Dr Aslam Dasoo's given his opinion on the matter.

"The problem really is that the state of disaster under existing regulation are having absolutely no impact on the cause of the pandemic at this time and what should of happened was the complete rescinding of the disaster management act and the lifting of the remaining restrictions. That would be appropriate at this stage of the pandemic."