South Africa entered its first day of lockdown on 27 March 2020 in response to the rapid spread of the coronavirus (COVID‑19). This lockdown will last until 23h59 on Thursday, 16 April 2020. During this time, all movement of persons will be restricted.
During the lockdown, all persons will be confined to their homes, unless they are performing an essential service, obtaining an essential good or service, collecting a social grant, or seeking emergency, life-saving or chronic medical attention. You may not attend any gathering (except a funeral attended by no more than 50 people and which may not include any night vigil), move between provinces, and move between metropolitan and district areas.
If you need to perform one of the above permitted activities during lockdown, then note:
- bus services, taxi services and e-hailing services are not permitted to carry more than 50% of the licensed capacity; and
- private vehicles may not carry more than 60% of the licensed capacity (for example, if it's a standard five-seater vehicle no more than three persons may occupy that vehicle at any given time, which number includes the driver).
Persons performing essential services must carry the prescribed permit (issued by the head of the public or private institution for which such persons work) which authorises them to perform such services, and a form of identification. Other than this permit to perform an essential service, there have been no regulations or directions issued that require persons to carry any sort of permit while engaged in permitted activity outside the home. Until such further permit requirements are issued, if you leave your home to purchase or obtain an essential good or service, collect a social grant, or seek emergency, life-saving or chronic medical attention, then it would be advisable that you carry with you:
- some form of photo identification; and
- evidence of the activity you will be undertaking, such as a shopping list, prescription, or social grant card.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
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