Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has outlined the restrictions and conditions that will be in place during level 4 lockdown that starts on 1 May.
At a media briefing on Saturday, Dlamini-Zuma said although relatively more people would be allowed to go back to work under level 4, a significant number restrictions would still remain to limit the rate of COVID-19 infections.
She said, “When we move down to level 4 and we do not stick to the public health restrictions and conditions and the virus [infection rate] starts speeding up, the government would have no option but to move very swiftly back to level 5.”
Level 4 permissions: A summary
Movement
The following conditions on movement will be in place:
- It will be mandatory for all South Africans to wear cloth masks whenever they leave their homes.
- Screenings in public spaces and workplaces.
- Hygiene and social distancing.
- 8pm – 5am curfew.
Wholesale and retail
The sale of the following products in wholesale and retail stores will be permitted:
- Food, hygienic, cleaning, protective and baby care, and stationery.
- Winter clothing and bedding heating.
- Medical supplies.
- Fuel, coal, wood, gas and tobacco.
- Hardware supplies for qualified tradespersons: Emergency repairs for homes and essential services.
Manufacturing
The following manufacturing processes will be permitted:
- 100% capacity: L4 products and inputs, and paper.
- 50%: Stationery, cement, and construction material.
- 50%: Automotive manufacturing and components.
- 100%: Petroleum smelters, refineries and furnaces.
- 50%: Winter clothing, bedding and heating.
- 100%: Inputs for essential services.
- Essential maintenance to prevent damage and to permit orderly shutdown.
- 20%: All other manufacturing.
Transport and logistics
The following transport services will be permitted:
- Cargo for domestic destinations and neighbouring countries and prioritisation of essential goods.
- E-hailing (subject to regulations, direction and curfew).
- Limited public transport (subject to regulations, direction and curfew).
Media
Online services and live-streaming; newspapers; broadcasting; and production for local broadcast will be permitted.
Services, repair and emergency
The following will be permitted:
- Vehicle recovery services.
- Emergency car repairs.
- Emergency repair work, including plumbers, electricians, glaziers, and roof and locksmiths repairs.
Information and communications
Work in the following service areas will be permitted:
- All telecommunication, information, and communications technology.
- ICT equipment and airtime.
- Postal services and courier services for medical products and medical services.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
The following will be permitted:
- Food agriculture and services, including livestock, and export agriculture.
- Essential fishing operations.
- Essential harvesting and storage activities.
- Flori-culture and forestry.
Mining and quarrying
Coal production for Eskom at 100% capacity; open-cast mining at 100% capacity; and 50% for all other mining/quarrying operations will be permitted.
Electricity, gas and water
All electricity, gas and water services will be permitted.
Construction
Operations in the following areas will be permitted:
- Critical civil engineering and construction for public works projects (including water, energy, sanitation, roads, and bridges.
- Critical maintenance and repairs.
Accommodation and food service
Services that will be permitted:
- Isolation and quarantine accommodation.
- Food delivery subject to curfew. There will be no sit-down and no takeaways.
Domestic support
Live-in staff and support for L4 personnel will be allowed.
Health and welfare
Workers in the following areas will be permitted to work:
- Trade union essential staff (subject to regulations, directions and curfew).
- All social work, care and relief.
- Funeral and cremation services.
- Wildlife management.
- Veterinary and medical services.
- Sanitation, pest control, sewerage, and refuse removal.
- Recycling (at 50% capacity), including informal traders.
Finance and business
Workers are encouraged to work from home, if possible. The following will be permitted:
- Supporting level 4 services, including car and equipment rental.
- Private security.
- Call centres (subject to regulations, directions and curfew).
- Essential financial services (subject to regulations, directions and curfew).
- Payroll-related workers.
Restrictions
The following restrictions will apply during level 4 lockdown:
- No local or inter-provincial travel, except those operations returning to do or support L4, and no international travel.
- No concerts, cinemas and gatherings.
- Limited exercise (subject to regulations, directions and curfew). No public gym.
- No passenger, air and sea travel.
Leave a Reply