Level 4 lockdown restrictions and conditions: All you need to know

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.