LOCKDOWN LEVEL 1

Social grants and services

• A ministerial directive gazetted on 7 October amended directions in place since 6 August by:
  • extending to 31 December the validity of temporary disability grants and care dependency grants that have already lapsed during the State of Disaster or are due to lapse
  • requiring the Social Security Agency of SA to include ‘checking with banks’ when reassessing failed applications for a special temporary social relief of distress grant
  • resuming inter-country adoption processes, and
  • setting out the social distancing, health and hygiene measures to be taken at ‘drop in’ centres.

 

Sports, arts and culture activities

 

• On 7 October, a ministerial directive was issued:
  • aligning directions in place since 28 August with the latest disaster management regulations, allowing:
    • international events involving countries from medium- and low-risk countries subject to compliance with prevailing social distancing, health and hygiene requirements, and
    • setting out the control measures to be taken.

 

Biodiversity

 

• A ministerial directive gazetted on 7 October sets out the measures to be taken at live biodiversity auctions involving plant and animal species.

 

DEVELOPMENTS UNRELATED TO THE COVID-19 STATE OF DISASTER

Communications

• A draft policy framework for ‘audio and audio-visual content services’ was gazetted on 9 October for comment. Among other things, it proposes:
  • a new licensing system
  • repealing the ‘enabling provisions in law for must-carry regulation’
  • a review of subscription service advertising revenue share to ensure the sustainability and viability of free-to-air services, and
  • an end to exclusive transmission agreements for free-to-air public broadcasting service offerings.

 

Prepared by Pam Saxby