COVID-19: Lockdown regulations relaxed

Ministers representing the COVID -19 National Command council gave an update on the revised lockdown regulations on Thursday evening.

Communications, Telecommunications and Postal Services

Government will now resort to using cellphones to trace the people who have been around a person know to have been infected with Covid-19.

Minister of Communications, Telecommunications and Postal Services Stella Tembisa Ndabeni-Abrahams said while privacy would be ensured, the cellphones of those around an infected person would be traced for testing purposes.

“When we say we are going to use cellphone numbers it doesn’t mean we take anyone’s number. The department of health will seek permission to access the geo-location of those who have tested positive,” she said.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) said the department realised that there was no clear regulation on how people wanting to move from one province to another to attend a funeral would be allowed to do so.

“Funerals were not a prohibited gathering. Because there was a prohibition of movement between provinces this affected people who wanted to move for funerals,” she said. “We’ve had to amend the regulations to make it clear that relatives of the deceased may attend.”

Dlamini-Zuma said only the following persons, who live outside a province or metropolitan and district areas, may attend a funeral:
• A spouse or partner of the deceased;
• Children of the deceased, whether biological, adopted or stepchildren;
• Children-in-law of the deceased;
• Parents of the deceased whether biological, adopted or stepparents;
• Siblings, whether biological, adopted or stepbrother or sister of the deceased;
• Grandparents of the deceased; and
• Persons closely affiliated with the deceased.

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She said these individuals would need to get permits from a magistrate who is the head of office or a station commander of a police station. A death certificate or a certified copy of a death certificate would be needed for the permit.

The 50 people attendance regulation remains unchanged and no church night vigils would be allowed.
Dlamini-Zuma said there was a need to clarify that spaza shops were allowed to open and a new regulation was also put in place for informal traders to operate after getting permits.

Home Affairs

Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said fuel and cargo would now be allowed to cross the border.

“The borders have been closed for people. The amendment is that the minister of home affairs may allow a person to be repatriated from the republic in case of a medical emergency. This includes South Africans in other countries and those in South Africa to go to their home countries.”

Motsoaledi said people who needed to be repatriated back into the country would be allowed to cross the border and that those who are stuck in South Africa after the lockdown, would be allowed to return to their countries on arrangements.

Police

Police minister Bheki Cele stressed that the number of people at gatherings was still 50 and anyone who defied this would not be allowed.

“When people request permission to attend a funeral. It is important to understand how many other people are going there. It shall not be allowed that those in attendance are more than 50.”

He said police will make sure all these laws are enforced. They were focusing on specific areas that were intentionally disregarding the law.

According to Cele 2289 people have been arrested so far for breaking regulations.

In relation to cigarette regulations, he stressed no bans were uplifted. “There are no provincial or municipal regulations. What is done in Limpopo is expected in Western Cape. Some provinces want to relax the regulations. They must stick with the national regulations. This is a call to say let’s all stick to the regulations.”

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