Covid-19 Regulatory Update 06Apr2020
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Covid-19 Regulatory Update 06 April 2020 Covid-19 related guidelines and regulations: https://www.gov.za/coronavirus/guidelines. Covid-19 Directives and notices relating to legal practitioners: http://www.derebus.org.za/directives-covid-19/ / https://lpc.org.za/ CONTENTS AGRICULTURE............................................................................................................................................................ 1 COMPETITION ............................................................................................................................................................ 1 CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE .......................................................................................................................... 2 EDUCATION ................................................................................................................................................................ 2 ENERGY & MINING ..................................................................................................................................................... 2 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ............................................................................................................................................. 2 FINANCIAL LAW .......................................................................................................................................................... 3 LOCKDOWN REGULATIONS ..................................................................................................................................... 3 MEDICAL LAW............................................................................................................................................................. 3 SAFETY AND SECURITY ........................................................................................................................................... 5 TRADE AND INDUSTRY ............................................................................................................................................. 5 TRANSPORTATION .................................................................................................................................................... 6 WATER ........................................................................................................................................................................ 6 AGRICULTURE Media Release Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. Minister Didiza to announce interventions in the agricultural sector to ensure continued production of food during COVID-19 and beyond. 05 April 2020. “Following last week's announcement of the R1.2 billion COVID-19 disaster fund intervention in the agricultural sector as a response to assist small-scale farmers, Minister Thoko Didiza will pronounce the details of this allocation during a virtual media briefing to be held on Monday, 06 April 2020. Details of the media briefing are as follows: date: Monday, 06 April 2020;time: 13:00 and venue: Tshedimosetso House, GCIS Auditorium, 1035 Francis Baard Street, Hatfield in Pretoria.” https://www.gov.za/speeches/minister-thoko-didiza-announces-interventions-agricultural-sector-ensure-continued Back to Contents COMPETITION Government Gazette Competition Act 89 of 1998 Covid-19 Regulatory Update: 06 April 2020 CompetitionTribunal Rules for Covid -19 Excessive Pricing Complaint Referrals. RGN448 GG 43205 p3 3Apr2020 http://www.gpwonline.co.za/Gazettes/Gazettes/43205_03-04_DTI.pdf Back to Contents CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE Media Releases KwaZulu-Natal Transport. KwaZulu-Natal Transport arrests over 1 000 people for failing to adhere to Coronavirus COVID-19 lockdown regulations. 02 April 2020. “KwaZulu-Natal Transport arrests over 1000 people for failing to adhere to Coronavirus COVID-19 lockdown regulations. A total of 1443 people spent the past few days of the national lockdown behind bars after they were arrested by KwaZulu-Natal law enforcement agencies during raids and roadblocks held across the province as part of clamping down on lawlessness. Speaking during a roadblock on the R102 in KwaDukuza today, 02 April 2020, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mr Bheki Ntuli, said major roadblocks and law enforcement operations will continue throughout the province targeting various categories of crime including overloading and failure to adhere to the lockdown regulations.” https://www.gov.za/speeches/kwazulu-natal-transport-arrests-over-1-000-people-failing-adhere-coronavirus-covid-19 South African Police Service. Minister Bheki Cele welcomes the decrease in serious and violent crimes, attributing this to amongst other factors, the prohibition of the sale and movement of liquor since the Coronavirus COVID-19 lockdown. 05 April 2020. “Police Minister, General Bheki Cele, on Sunday morning, 05 April 2020 welcomed the general decrease in serious and violent crimes, attributing this to amongst other factors, the prohibition of the sale and movement of liquor since the COVID-19 nationwide lockdown. The 2019-2020 National Crime Statistics are yet to be officially released by the Minister of Police to Parliament at a later stage this year. Therefore, the analysis done curently is a preliminary report that is yet to undergo the necessary verification and endorsements.” https://www.gov.za/speeches/minister-bheki-cele-welcomes-decrease-serious-and-violent-crimes-attributing-amongst-other Back to Contents EDUCATION Media Release Western Cape Education. MEC Debbie Schäfer on Quality Learning resources. 03 April 2020. “Grade 12 is already a stressful year for most learners as they complete their schooling career and face their final examinations. With the extended holiday and lockdown period we understand that this can cause further anxiety and distress… All Grade 12 learners are encouraged to revise the work covered during the first term, and work through all assignments and tests they previously completed. They will also need to prepare for the work ahead and for the examination process, using the “Tips for Success booklets” or curriculum guidelines (both located on the WCED website), learners can start reading about the topics and concepts that will be introduced before they write their examinations, using different sources and to share good material with fellow learners. Research is an important part of learning. Self-research, analysis of materials, and summarisation are all key skills.” https://www.gov.za/speeches/mec-debbie-sch%C3%A4fer-quality-learning-resources-3-apr-2020-0000 Back to Contents ENERGY & MINING Media Release Department of Mineral Resources. Remarks by Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Mr Gwede Mantashe (MP), update on sector interventions responding to the nationwide lockdown. 03 April 2020. “In our previous briefing, we outlined that mining operations will be scaled down significantly, particularly deep-level mining. Essential services supporting the sector – including security and related infrastructure, maintenance, water pumping and ventilation, must continue. Mines supplying Eskom continue operating. Production of gold, chrome, manganese, iron ore and other sectors will operate at scaled down levels, to allow smelters which cannot be switched on and off abruptly, to remain operational.” https://www.gov.za/speeches/minister-gwede-mantashe-updates-sector-interventions-responding-coronavirus-covid-19 Back to Contents ENVIRONMENTAL LAW Lexinfo CC | PO Box 36216, Glosderry, 7702 | www.lexinfo.co.za | [email protected] | Cell: 084 559 2847Page 2 Covid-19 Regulatory Update: 06 April 2020 Media Release Department of Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries. Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy updates on measures taken in the sector during the national lockdown. 03 April 2020. “National regulations identified food and hygiene products as essential goods. Accordingly, the fisheries sector is operating during this time. It includes the right of both commercial and small scale fishers/ interim relief to fish. In previous communication we outlined extension with regards to fishing permits. Today we outline provisions that allow commercial and small scale/interim relief fishers in the Northern and Western Cape to take advantage of the snoek run in the Northern Cape. Accordingly, fishers in the Northern and Western Cape may travel within and across the provinces to catch snoek in what is known as Zone A. At all times, fishing teams must adhere to prescribed hygiene provisions such as sanitising of hands, sanitising the insides of vehicles and equipment. Restrictions on the number of passengers in vehicles must be observed at all times.” https://www.gov.za/speeches/minister-barbara-creecy-updates-measures-taken-sector-during-coronavirus-covid-19-lockdown Back to Contents FINANCIAL LAW Media Statement SA Government News Agency. 81 000 SMMEs submit funding applications. 2020 April 3 SA News “Applications on the SMME SA database were opened on Thursday at 9am, said Small Business Development Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, during a ministerial press briefing on Friday…“We want to clarify to SMMEs out there that registering on the database does not translate to you applying. We want to ascertain that you are indeed an operating business and not a shelf company,” she said. She said this was to eliminate the possibilities of system abuse. “You’ll recall that we said for you to qualify you need to have been in business by 29 February 2020,” the