COVID-19 State of Disaster & Lockdown Regulations: Latest Update
COVID-19 State of Disaster & Lockdown Regulations: Update
A new set of Covid-19 disaster management regulations was gazetted on 29 April, consolidating and replacing those issued on 25 March and since amended several times. Chapter 3 spells out ‘permissions and prohibitions’ under lockdown level four, affecting sectors of the economy either already operating or allowed to gradually resume normal activities – subject to implementing strict social distancing, health and hygiene protocols. In addition, the new regulations:
- make it compulsory, when in public, to cover the nose and mouth by wearing a cloth face mask, similar homemade item or appropriate alternative
- require every employer to provide a face mask to any staff member regularly in direct contact with members of the public
- require employers to introduce ‘special measures’ for staff members with ‘known or disclosed health issues or comorbidities’ and/or above the age of 60
- prescribe the social distancing and hygiene measures to be taken by all retail outlets
- continue lockdown level five prohibitions on ‘the sale, dispensing and distribution of liquor’ as well as the sale of tobacco products and e-cigarettes, and
- allow people to ‘walk, run or cycle between the hours of 06:00 to 09:00, within a five-kilometre radius of their place of residence’.
Workplace health and safety
Two ministerial directives were gazetted last week:
- one sets out the requirements to be met by ‘any workplace permitted to continue or commence operations’ under the new regulations (including conducting a risk assessment), and
- the other focuses on developing Covid-19-related health and safety operating standards and procedures at mines.
A media statement released on 3 May unpacks the more general requirements.
Public transport
According to a Department of Transport media statement released on 1 May:
- Metrorail commuter services will not be resumed until ‘the risk of transmission is manageable on a corridor-by-corridor basis’
- even when SA moves to lockdown level three, only a ‘limited’ commuter rail service is envisaged.
A ministerial directive issued the same day spells out measures to be taken by road passenger transport operators during the 1 to 7 May once-off period of inter-provincial movement, authorised on 30 April in anticipation of large numbers of citizens returning to work under lockdown level four.
Social grants
Last week, Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu issued a media statement clarifying:
- the requirements to be met when applying for a R350 per month ‘special Covid-19 social relief of distress grant’ (from May to October)
- the individual child support grant top-up of R300 (during May only)
- the R500 top-up for caregivers of children receiving support grants (from June to October) and
- the new monthly arrangement for ‘older persons and persons with disabilities’ receiving social grants, aimed at avoiding the ‘overcrowding’ and other ‘challenges’ experienced in April at grant payment points.
ICT
A ministerial directive gazetted on Sunday prescribes the measures to be taken by communications and digital technologies sector operations either continuing activities under Covid-19 lockdown level four or gradually resuming them.
Grocery retail outlets
The Competition Commission has confirmed that there will be no extension to the 28 May deadline for complying with a grocery retail market inquiry report recommendation on ceasing the enforcement of exclusivity provisions in long-term lease agreements between national supermarket chains and retail property owners. Covid-19 lockdown ‘restrictions on movement’ have ‘exacerbated’ the ‘detrimental competitive effects’ of exclusive lease agreements, which must end.
Stakeholders have three more months to implement other recommendations in the report, including:
- a code of conduct seeking to ensure the equal treatment of retail and wholesale customers by suppliers
- a code of conduct seeking to ensure the equal treatment of all tenants by retail property landlords, and
- the development of a competitiveness support package for ‘small and independent grocery retailers’.
Tax relief
National Treasury has called for comment by 15 May on:
- a revised draft Disaster Management Tax Relief Bill
- a revised draft Disaster Management Tax Relief Administration Bill, and
- proposed amendments to rules under the 1964 Customs & Excise Act
Once in force, the two draft Bills will give effect to additional Covid-19 tax relief measures announced last month by President Cyril Ramaphosa and unpacked in an explanatory memorandum:
- a R750 per month employment tax incentive
- the deferral of 30% of PAYE obligations
- the deferral of provisional tax obligations on a gross income threshold of up to R100m
- a four-month ‘holiday’ for skills development levy contributions
- expanded access to living annuity funds
- a special tax dispensation for funds established to assist with Covid-19 disaster relief efforts
- fast-tracked VAT refunds
- the deferral of carbon tax return filing and first payment obligations, and
- the deferral of excise duty payments on tobacco and liquor products.
Prepared by Pam Saxby
See prior blogs:
COVID-19 State of Disaster & Lockdown: Update on 28 April 2020
COVID-19 State of Disaster & Lockdown Regulations: Update
COVID-19 State of Disaster & Lockdown Regulations: A summary
About this blog
"That week in Parliament" is a series of blog posts in which the important Parliamentary events of the week are discussed.
We host the latest posts of this blog, written by People's Assembly. You can find more on PA's blog.
About this blog
"That week in Parliament" is a series of blog posts in which the important Parliamentary events of the week are discussed.
We host the latest posts of this blog, written by People's Assembly. You can find more on PA's blog.