South Africa lockdown restrictions are set to be eased weekly in order to allow the economy to kickstart ad to provide citizens with essential services according to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma. The following restrictions will be eased until the end of April.
Here are the key takeouts from the minister’s address
Buying and drinking alcohol during lockdown
Alcohol remains banned and there is no province that is allowed to remove the ban. “We are stressing the prohibition of the transportation of liquor. The only alcohol that is allowed to be transported is that used for our sanitisers. Liquor that you drink is not allowed to be exported in the same way that it is not allowed to be sold,” Dlamini-Zuma said.
Call centres
Call centres have been added to essential services and they will be allowed to operate. Call centre staff will be allowed to move to work without restrictions. “People have insurances should they lose jobs, and these call centres facilitate the claiming of insurance,” she said
Call centres for retailing companies, insurance companies and banks will be allowed to operate as they are part of essential services.
Coal mine operations
Coal mines that supply Eskom have been allowed to operate and they will be gradually allowed to operate at full capacity. They currently allowed to operate at 50% capacity. Refineries will soon be allowed to operate at full capacity to allow the availability of fuel.
Funerals
“Funerals are still restricted to 50 people per gathering and sanitizers should be availed, social distancing must be observed. Before a funeral gathering is done, relatives should seek clearance from the magistrate court using a death certificate,” said the minister.
Co-parenting of children
“You have to have a court order, family advocate’s papers or must have a birth certificate that shows the connection between you and the children you are moving,” Dlamini-Zuma said.
Plumbing, electrician services
Dlamini-Zuma says the government will allow plumbers and electricians will be allowed to do their jobs upon request from their customers.
Warehouses
Essential goods that are stored in warehouses will be accessed especially those that are to do with the supply and storage of water.