In response to the negative press and increased restrictions placed on travel to South Africa, Owner of Centre Stage Travel, Colin J Fryer, had this to say:

“Emotions worldwide on the subject of COVID-19 run high, very high.

Geographical regions swing between clear of the virus and others overwhelmed. The flow of information both ‘true’ and ‘false’ is utterly profound. I would take John Irvine's (Senior International Correspondent for ITV) words within the framework of a snapshot reflection he absorbed over his few days within the Bulungula community in the Eastern Cape.

It is rural Africa at its best/worst with all its challenges and yet notes of a people striving to uplift themselves as best they are able were not a part of his broadcast.

His words that this location is ‘the deadliest place on Earth’ with regard to COVID-19 infections displays a degree of ‘reporter speak’ (the art of setting up a series of words to fully attract and influence the watcher/listener with little or no need for truth or facts) as there is no scientific evidence (local or international) to back this reflection.

The world over is deeply within doublespeak (Animal Farm – George Orwell), deflecting dubious threads of input from ‘experts’ to ulterior motives of newscasters. Is the subsequent energy required by us here in South Africa to rebut each and every reflection on the way and manner we are handling this pandemic as valuable as our emotive self-beliefs?

There has and will always be input that is either untrue, false or positioned to bring home an ulterior motive for a specific group. Balanced and an unemotive (my word) stance within our continued focus to provide the very, very best we are as passionate purveyors of inbound hospitality is where our collective energies are best rewarded.”