KAROO NEWS - Monday 12 October marked an important day for South Africans. It's been 200 days since President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a national lockdown, which started on 26 of March.
It was a time of panic-buying and long queuing, as people scrambled to stores to buy essential goods. Some decided to take a road trip to their holiday home, while some were denied repatriation and others just decided to stay home.
In the weeks to follow after the announcement, it became mandatory to wear a cloth mask when going out in public. This became the new normal for all. Wearing a mask became so normal that, before leaving the house, it was like choosing which T-shirt to wear with a certain colour jean.
In honour of the 200-day mark, we asked locals to express their views on this milestone.
Some did it poetically:
Days come and go
By James Williams
200 days gone by living in the unknown.
So much time wasted thinking of this and that.
So much time spent on if, what's, and maybes.
For a few there were no goodbyes.
A few even spread some lies.
Herbal remedies and homemade tonics.
Selling hope in a bottle to the old, frail and chronic.
Don't fear change, don't fear the unknown.
Change is coming, change is here.
These 200 days gone by, living the unknown.
"Where's my mask?" is the new "where are my keys?".
Masker-dra
Deur Christie
Wie is agter die masker?
Wat steek jy weg?
Niks nie!
Dis teen Corona wat ek veg!
Vir twee-honderd dae?
Nee! Dis glad nie reg.
200-dae van maskers dra
Deur anoniem
Na twee-honderd dae van masker dra
Kan jy my dit maar vra
Die hartseer, angs en vrees
Wil ons nooit weer beleef
Na twee-honderd dae van masker dra
Dans ons met maskers wat uitrafel op maat
die nuwe normaal binne
Na twee-honderd dae van masker dra
Bring ons hulde aan vriende
familie en ons land se helde
en sing ons 'n danklied saam.
Share your thoughts or artistic expression about the last 200 days by sending your work to paula@groupeditors.co.za.
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