GOVERNMENT RELAXES SOME LOCKDOWN RULES

Today the 2nd of April 2020 and Day 7 of the National Lockdown government relaxed some of it’s regulations. In an Inter-Ministerial press briefing held earlier today, government through the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma announced that spaza shops will be allowed to operate during the nationwide lockdown.

“All spaza shops should be open including informal food traders, but they must get a permit,” she said. This will include Kota businesses. Dlamini-Zuma said it was wrong for police to shutdown spaza shops in townships.

People are also now allowed to travel between provinces to attend funerals. A maximum of 50 people, excluding undertakers and gravediggers, are allowed to attend a funeral. Night vigils are still prohibited.

Only individuals close to the deceased will be permitted to travel between provinces to attend a funeral. The amendment of the regulations state that the spouse, children, siblings and grandparents will have to obtain a permit to attend a funeral outside the province. The permit may be obtained from either a magistrate or a station commander of a police station or a person designated by him or her. In order to obtain a permit, one must provide a death certificate or a certified copy of a death certificate to the magistrate or the station commander of a police station.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula rescinded his earlier announcement that taxis will be allowed to operate 100% of their capacity if all the commuters wore masks. Taxis will now only be permitted to operate with 70% of their capacity.

The relaxing of some regulations come after South Africa recorded 1, 462 confirmed cases of coronavirus. The Department of Health has recorded 5 deaths with 2 more awaiting verification and clarification.

Dlamini-Zuma admitted that the first week of the lockdown had provided a number of lessons for government to learn from and said it was ‘too soon’ to talk about a lockdown extension.

The lockdown is scheduled to end on the 16th of April 2020.