Covid-19 Regulations issued

COVID-19

REGULATIONS ISSUED

by Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Dear employer

The Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs issued regulations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on 18 March 2020.

These regulations, in essence, determine the following:

• All gatherings are prohibited. A gathering is defined as “any assembly, concourse or procession of more than 100 persons, wholly or partially in open air or in a building or premises.” Although this definition is very wide, the intention is seemingly not aimed at workplaces with more than 100 employees but rather at social events.
• The assembly of more than 50 persons at premises where liquor is sold and consumed is prohibited.
• No person who has been confirmed as having COVID-19, or is suspected to have such or who has been in contact with a carrier may refuse consent to an enforcement officer to be medically examined, admitted to a health facility, quarantine or isolation site or submission to preventative measures or treatment.
• The various levels of government must identify and make available isolation sites as required.
• Schools and partial care facilities must be closed by 18 March 2020 until 15 April 2020, which period may be extended.
• All visits to correctional facilities are suspended for 30 days, which may be extended.
• All on-consumption premises selling liquor, including taverns, restaurants, bars and clubs, must be closed with immediate effect, or must accommodate no more than 50 persons at any time: provided that adequate space is available (not more than 1 person per square meter of floor space) and that all directions in terms of hygiene and limitation of exposure to COVID-19 are adhered to.
• All on-consumption premises selling liquor must be closed between 18:00 and 9:00 the next morning on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 13:00 on Sundays and public holidays. It seems that establishments which normally sells liquor but which refrains from doing so after the prescribed hours, may remain open, subject to the remaining regulations.
• All premises selling liquor which provide accommodation must implement measures to stop the spread of COVID-19: provided that adequate space is available (not more than 1 person per square meter of floor space) and that all directions in terms of hygiene and limitation of exposure to COVID-19 are adhered to.
• All off-consumption premises selling liquor must be closed between 18:00 and 9:00 the next morning on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 13:00 on Sundays and public holidays.
• Any person who contravenes these regulations are guilty of an offence and may be subjected to a fine or a maximum prison sentence of 6 months.

Click here for a bilingual version of the regulations.

Employers who are affected by these regulations are advised to contact their regional NEASA office for assistance.

Kind Regards

Jaco Swart
National Manager

Privileged and challenged to be South African.
We are all in this together.