[COVID-19] South Africa Constitutional Court Dismisses Plea Challenging 21 Day Lock Down

Like India, South Africa is also facing lock down in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. The Constitutional Court of South Africa today dismissed a plea challenging 21 day lock down imposed in the Country by the President Cyril Ramaphosa, as per the media reports. An NGO named Hola Bon Renaissance Foundation had approached the court contending that Covid-19 "poses no serious threat to the country and its people"."The Constitutional Court has considered the application for direct access to this court on an urgent basis. It has concluded that the application should be dismissed as it bears no reasonable prospects of success," the court held as it dismissed the application.[Sources: The South African, TimesLive, News24]South Africa HC dismissed man plea to travel to attend grandfather's funeralLast week, the Mpumalanga division of the High Court of South Africa had dismissed the application of a man who wanted to travel from Mpumalanga to the Eastern Cape to support his mother and to assist with his grandfather's funeral."I have extreme sympathy for the applicant but I must uphold the law. Unfortunately, presently, the law prohibits that which the applicant wants to do however urgent and deserving. The Executive, under enabling legislation, invoked the provisions of the Act by declaring the state of disaster in order to curb the spread of COVID-19. The Act and the final lock down Regulation applies to everyone within the borders of the Republic. I cannot accede to the relief the applicant seeks because in doing so, I will be authorizing the applicant to break the law under judicial decree – that no court can do. In addition, no matter how careful and diligent the applicant will conduct himself, not only the applicant but many others may be exposed to unnecessary risk, even death if I grant the applicant the relief he seeks", the judge had said while dismissing his plea.Covid-19 Status in South AfricaThis is the present status as per the official website in South Africa. More than 1200 persons are tested positive for the virus in the Country.

[COVID-19] South Africa Constitutional Court Dismisses Plea Challenging 21 Day Lock Down

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