COVID-19 STATE OF DISASTER

• South Africa’s return to lockdown level one was confirmed on 28 February by notice in the Government Gazette.
• Amended disaster management regulations were gazetted on 28 February:
  • confirming announcements in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s to the nation address regarding:
    • reduced curfew hours (00:01 to 04:00)
    • 23:00 as closing time for all establishments at which gatherings are permitted
    • trade in alcoholic beverages during hours stipulated in each outlet’s licence
    • political and cultural gatherings, and
    • airports now open for international travel.
• The new regulations require every district municipality – after consulting local municipalities in its area – to alert communities within that district of infection levels increasing at a rate that could necessitate the declaration of a hotspot.
• Regarding prohibited activities:
  • no alcohol may be consumed in public places other than those licensed for that purpose
  • no spectators are allowed at sports matches, and
  • before and after funeral gatherings are forbidden.
• Nightclubs are to remain closed.

 

Temporary disability grants

• On 22 February, a ministerial directive was issued:
  • clarifying the status of three categories of recently lapsed temporary disability grants
  • allowing ‘adoption social workers in private practice’ whose services were interrupted by the State of Disaster and whose accreditation expired on 30 April 2020 until 31 August 2021 to finalise affected cases, and
  • confirming that social relief of distress grants will continue to be paid until 30 April to people with no other source of income.

 

Capital relief for banks

• The Prudential Authority has issued a guidance note relaxing certain restrictions in place since last year.

 

LABOUR

• On 22 February, Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi issued a media statement on the new national minimum wage, which is now in force. The statement explains the impact of Covid-19 lockdown measures on decisions to:
  • align farmworkers’ wages with the national minimum, and
  • bring the wages of domestic workers closer – but not equal – to the national minimum.

 

TRADE, INDUSTRY AND COMPETITION

• The Competition Commission has:
  • announced its intention to conduct an inquiry into the online intermediary platforms market, including:
    • eCommerce platforms
    • ‘travel aggregators’
    • food delivery
    • short-term accommodation rentals
    • online classifieds, and
    • ‘app stores’, and
  • has called for comments from members of the public on the terms of reference proposed.

 

JUSTICE

• Commencement dates for certain regulations under the 2013 Protection of Personal Information Act were gazetted on 26 February with guidelines for representative organisations wishing to develop a code of conduct.

 

COMMUNICATIONS

• On 22 February, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa issued a media statement:
  • providing more details on the upcoming auction of high-demand radio frequency spectrum, and
  • confirming that qualified bidders will be announced on 23 March.
• Draft amendments to the 2012 postal services customer care standards were gazetted on 26 February for comment.

ENVIRONMENTAL:

• Environmental authorisation application and issuance procedures were gazetted on 26 February for:
  • large-scale wind and solar photovoltaic facilities
  • strategic gas transmission pipeline infrastructure, and
  • electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure in renewable energy development zones.

 

Prepared by Pam Saxby