I have always wanted to use this sketch above, from an unknown source, one day and I finally have a good reason to with this piece. I am sure we all remember that moment when our president announced the mandatory use of wearing masks in public areas during a live TV broadcast and South Africans made him and this photo in particular, trend on social media?

I visited about three malls over the weekend as I made my way to Joburg and I must say, freedom is upon us. Ever since the breaking news on the evening of the 22nd June 2022 going into the 23rd, there’s something very different in the atmosphere, in our country and over our faces all of a sudden and we are not alone in this change. News24 reports that other countries who have done away with the mandatory wearing of masks in public spaces include Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Switzerland, Rwanda and the USA amongst a select few.

Some call it a relief, some are still unsure, undecided, some say “It’s long overdue!”, while others are still debating on what these new changes actually mean or the reasons behind them but I think many of us are thrilled.

Health minister Dr Joe Phaahla made many South Africans elated when he publicly released the latest revisions to the country’s COVID-19 restrictions in the government gazette which included the scraping of masks indoors and limits on public gatherings amongst others.

I woke up to start some light trouble regarding this at work for most of the day, mind you I still had my mask on the entire time. It was interesting to see how many people were not even aware of the new changes which were announced the previous night but it was insightful to get the different views of people around the mask elephant.

So, I visited Fourways Mall early in the morning on Saturday, well lost my way inside that humongous mall to be honest, in search of one specific store and all this happens when I initially thought it would be a simple in and out thing. So, like many South Africans over the past two years or so, I have my collection of masks – disposable ones inside my glove compartment (I always try to stock that area up quite religiously to avoid being caught without one on my way out) & a set of navy blue cloth masks that I easily get from work. I am always sorted with regards to that and on Saturday morning, I encountered a cross-road situation.

Yes, I was aware of the revised changes to the COVID-19 rules in the country announced during the week but I am sure I was not the only one still a bit conflicted, so I decided to take a mask and put it in my pocket, just in case. That I must say, felt weird. Then I made it through the first hurdle, the entrance of the mall. You know, where there is usually security personnel tasked to ensure that everyone wears a mask and that they sanitize? Yes, I walked in. Just like that. I never thought that this freedom would actually come. It was surreal having to take in the experience of walking around the mall and seeing people without masks, seeing their faces and smiles as they went about their day. How the past two years have robbed us off these small pleasures!

When I eventually got to the store I had struggled to find, I almost wanted to put my Google maps navigator on while inside the mall to help me walk myself to it. Luckily, it did not get to that extreme extent as I carefully followed the directions from the security lady I had initially asked after coming in. I must say, whenever you’re in doubt, it’s always better to ask. South Africans are very warm and able to assist, especially if you ask nicely and don’t look or seem dodgy. So, I listened, recalled and made turns where she said I must turn and she made use of other stores as well as landmarks while directing me, which assisted greatly.

I got to the store and asked the lady there if I should have my mask on as she had hers on and she casually responded, “Only if you want to.” And that’s when I realized that freedom is truly here, it was no longer a joke.

I also went to Busy Corner Mall, where a similar situation almost happened. I had that awkward moment in the car, contemplating whether or not to take my mask along and I eventually decided to take one. While walking into the mall, with my mask still visible on my hand, one gentleman remarked, “You know what they said, right?”

And I responded, “No, what did they say?”
“They are now arresting anyone who’s seen with a mask. Please put that thing away!” He jokingly said, as he walked away. I still saw some people with masks here and there at both malls, who were thankfully, not bothered at all by the stares.

Working for an NPO, with a fairly large number of kids who regularly attend, I was delighted that there no longer restrictions to our gatherings either indoors or outdoors in terms of numbers. Remember how we were told how many people need to attend indoor versus outdoor events, funerals etc.? Ja, all of that is all gone. Great news for churches, concert goers like myself, sports enthusiasts, stokvels and event planners. Extend the invites and add more tables and chairs if you will. We now no longer have to worry about how many people we have at our monthly sessions, at our NPO – Lebone, and I am super glad.

My last mall pitstop was Mall of Africa, on my way back home and the same thing happened and that’s when I convinced myself that the previous new world has changed. Forever. What a moment. What a time! Surreal.

Now with these new changes in effect, it got me thinking about the way forward from here and the following points come to mind. But before that, remember how buying flip flops, combs, vests and stationery was prohibited during hard lockdown? Smokers and alcohol consumers were also not having it easy at that time. It was a struggle to get stock and there were many home brewers who suddenly sprung up and the likes of “Take it or leave it” price hikers who became overnight distribution experts. I work in a province away from home and could not visit, to see my family as I normally would. We needed permits to move around, goodness me! We have really come a long way. I never want to relive those crazy times.

Now back to what I had mentioned earlier regarding my forward-looking thoughts on this.

1. Really glad the mask policing is over.

Let’s now all focus on reclaiming our lives from the prison cells we’ve been stuck in and stop policing the wearing of masks. We are tired of that and may we never go back there, ever. While I am still here, what happens to our master mask collections? Can security guards continue looking out for our security and not keep a roll call of temperatures and registers?

Well, we need to keep our mask collection. We spent so much time gathering it, some have even taken that as a fashion statement. Don’t throw them away as yet and while we’re at it, can we also not bother those of us who still choose to wear their masks indoors and in public? It’s voluntary now, so let us respect that and when you feel sickly, please wear a mask when you’re outdoors, it’s a good practice and lesson worth taking forward from the pandemic. Let’s not ridicule those who want to continue wearing masks. It’s not right, we live in a democratic country, right? Let’s only allow police to deal with what they are supposed to do – solving crime and dealing with incidents such as the tragic eNyobeni tavern tragedy in the Eastern Cape (see the EWN article in reference) that has taken over the news recently, where 21 kids aged 13 to 17 years died suddenly with their cause of death still a mystery.  In other news, what happens to our appointed COVID-19 compliance officers? Do those go away as well, I think they must. Many of these are the ‘police’ officers I am referring to here.

2. Yes to no more mass mask buying.

I won’t miss buying more masks and washing my cloth masks, the latter I loved wearing especially in this winter as they are super warm and comfortable but I won’t miss having to hand wash them regularly. Not at all. So sorry to the multiple mass mask producers with the different colours, patterns, shapes, makes and designs who made a killing during the pandemic. I had a lot of cloth masks – always had a box of those disposable ones handy too. It was a lot. All over the show even. I was not the only one as we had no choice really.

3. Hygiene is still key.

One of the most important lessons that the pandemic has taught us is the focus on good health, monitoring of one’s health in terms of symptoms development, temperature spikes and responding accordingly to these, coughing into a closed elbow, avoiding unnecessary handshakes everywhere and sanitizing of hands. All of which, I believe, regardless of the revised or rather scrapped amendments, the actual nice word used for this is ‘repealed’, remain relevant. All that matters is that they are done away away with, for now. However, the virus is still with us though with more control over how to treat it or deal with it now than before. The new positive cases have significantly reduced to less than 500 in recent reporting cycle, which is good news. Will we still talk of waves into the future, I am not so sure but what worries me now is that now that we’re at the brink of almost closing the dreaded COVID-19 disaster chapter, a new global virus is slowly emerging which is called monkeypox and Mzansi has since reported two positive cases thus far. Though still new and being studied, the SA health department has advised us to not panic but to be vigilant. The health minister has advised us to continue practicing good health hygiene to prevent the spread of the virus.

We are in for another ride, let’s just buckle up and weather it like we have done before. The future still appears unclear and unpredictable but for now I celebrate the freedom of getting rid of our beloved, new added accessory, aka the mask.

Farewell dear mask, until we meet some other time.

References

https://www.news24.com/drum/news/local/its-masks-off-in-south-africa-for-now-and-we-are-not-alone-20220623

https://ewn.co.za/2022/06/27/enyobeni-tavern-shut-down-following-the-deaths-of-several-teenagers