The lockdown in South Africa begins from Thursday Midnight until Thursday 16 April. During a lockdown, all South Africans are expected to stay home unless when performing essential services, and/or getting essential goods.
Essential services include collecting a social grant or seeking emergency, life-saving, or chronic medical attention.
During a lockdown, a funeral may take place but not more than 50 mourners will be allowed. Funeral night vigils (Tebello) will be prohibited.
You are strictly required to be home and no movement between provinces will be allowed, metropolitan and district areas movement is prohibited.
According to South Africa’s Government, “Retail shops and shopping malls must be closed, except where essential goods are sold and on condition that the person in control of the said store must put in place controls to ensure that customers keep a distance of at least one square meter from each other and that all directions in respect of hygienic conditions and the exposure of persons to COVID-19 are adhered to.”
Retailers selling essential Goods are not allowed to sell non-essential goods.
Here’s what is considered essential by the government.
Essential Goods during a lockdown
- Food
- Food includes any food products including any non-alcoholic beverages;
- Animal food
- As well as chemicals, packaging and ancillary products used in the production of any food product.
- Cleaning and Hygiene Products
- Toilet Paper
- Sanitary Pads,
- Sanitary tampons
- Condoms
- Hand Sanitizers
- Disinfectants
- Soap
- Alcohol for industrial use
- Household cleaning products
- Personal protective equipment
- As well as chemicals, packaging and ancillary products used in the production of any of the above.
- Medical
- Medical and Hospital Supplies, equipment and personal protective equipment;
- Chemicals, packaging and ancillary products used in the production of any of the above.
- Fuel, including coal and gas
- Basic goods, including airtime and electricity.
Essential Services during a lockdown
- Medical, Health (including Mental Health), Laboratory and Medical services;
- Disaster Management, Fire Prevention, Fire Fighting, and Emergency services;
- Financial services necessary to maintain the functioning of the banking and payments environment, including the JSE and similar exchanges, as well as Insurance services;
- Production and sale of the goods listed in category A, above;
- Grocery stores, including spaza shops;
- Electricity, water, gas and fuel production, supply and maintenance;
- Critical jobs for essential government services as determined by Head of National or Provincial Departments in accordance with the guidance by the DPSA, including Social Grant Payments;
- Birth and death certificates, and replacement identification documents;
- Essential municipal services;
- Care services and social relief of distress provided to older persons, the mentally ill, persons with disabilities, the sick, and children;
- Funeral services, including mortuaries;
- Wildlife Management, Anti-poaching, Animal Care and Veterinary services;
- Newspaper, broadcasting and telecommunication infrastructure and services;
- Production and sale of any chemicals, hygiene products, pharmaceuticals for the medical or retail sector;
- Cleaning, sanitation, sewerage, waste and refuse removal services;
- Services related to the essential functioning of courts, judicial officers, the Master of the High Court, Sheriffs and legal practitioners required for those services;
- Essential SARS services defined by the Commissioner of SARS;
- Police, peace officers, traffic officers, military medical personnel and soldiers, correctional services officials and traffic management services;
- Postal services and courier services related to the transport of medical products;
- Private security services;
- Air-traffic Navigation, Civil Aviation Authority, Cargo Shipping, and dockyard services;
- Gold, gold refinery, coal, and essential mining;
- Accommodation used for persons rendering essential services, quarantine, isolation, and the lockdown;
- Production, manufacturing, supply, logistics, transport, delivery, critical maintenance and repair in relation to the rendering of essential services including components and equipment;
- Transport services for persons rendering essential services and goods, and transportation of patients;
- Services rendered by the Executive, members of Parliament, Members of the Provincial Legislature, Members of Local Councils, the Judiciary, traditional leaders and National Office Bearers. of Political Parties represented in Parliament;
- Commissioners of the South African Human Rights Commission, Gender Commission, and the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, and the Public Protector and Deputy Public Protector; and
- Transport and logistics in respect of essential goods as set out in A above to neighboring countries.
