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
COMMUNICATIONS 2
CONFIRMED CASES 2
CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE 3
EDUCATION 3
FINANCIAL LAW 3
SAFETY AND SECURITY 4
TRADE AND INDUSTRY 4
WATER & SANITATION 4
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COMMUNICATIONS
Government Gazettes
Independent Communications Authority of South Africa
Harmonisation of Short Code ‘111’ for COVID-19 National Emergency Services. The ‘111’ service code is mandated for COVID-19 national emergency services during the National State of Disaster. The service code “111” will cease to be harmonised and mandated within three (3) months after the termination of the National State of Disaster.
GenN244 GG 43229 p3 15Apr2020
http://www.gpwonline.co.za/Gazettes/Gazettes/43229_15-04_Icasa.pdf
Media Release
Department of Communications. Government monitors and responds to misinformation and fake news during Coronavirus Covid-19 lockdown. 15 April 2020.
“Government has ramped up its capacity to monitor and respond to misinformation and fake news during this period of Covid-19 national pandemic and beyond. A hi-tech monitoring and evaluation process has been put in place to assess complaints and reports from the media, the public and other sectors of society, with the ability to take down fake news items on a range of platforms and submit cases to the SAPS for investigation and prosecution.”
CONFIRMED CASES
Media Releases
Department of Defence. Defence on confirmed cases of Coronavirus COVID-19. 15 April 2020.
“The Surgeon General of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) can confirm that there are four positive cases of COVID-19 within the military community. The three cases are from Western Cape and one from Gauteng Provinces. None of these members are uniformed members nor members deployed in support of the SAPS. It is imperative to note that the military community is bigger than the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
The military community is inclusive of dependants of the serving, retired soldiers and others eligible for care by the South African Military Health Service (SAMHS). All COVID-19 cases are treated and managed as per COVID-19 prescribed protocol.”
https://www.gov.za/speeches/defence-confirmed-cases-coronavirus-covid-19-15-apr-2020-0000
Department of Health. Minister Zweli Mkhize confirms total of 2 506 cases of Coronavirus COVID-19. 15 April 2020.
“As at today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa is 2 506. The total number of tests conducted to date is 90 515.
The provincial breakdown is as follows:
- Gauteng: 930;
- Western Cape: 657;
- Kwazulu – Natal: 519;
- Eastern Cape: 199;
- Free State: 97;
- Limpopo:25;
- North West:23;
- Mpumalanga:22;
- Northern Cape:16; and
- Unallocated:18.”
Western Cape Provincial Government. Western Cape confirms 676 cases of Coronavirus COVID-19 infections. 15 April 2020.
“As of 00h01 on 15 April, the Western Cape has recorded 676 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection. Total confirmed COVID-19 cases: 676, total recoveries: 192, total deaths: 7, total active cases (total cases-recoveries-deaths): 477. There are currently 37 Covid-19 positive people being treated in hospitals in the province, with 18 of these in intensive care.”
Media Statements
SA Government News Agency. COVID-19 cases rise to 2 506, 34 deaths.
2020 Apr 15 SA News
“The number of COVID-19 related deaths have risen to 34 in South Africa, with infections now at 2 506. This comes after Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on Wednesday confirmed seven more deaths. Mkhize confirmed the increase during a press briefing in which government received much-needed personal protective equipment from Multichoice, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. Confirmed cases overnight rose to 2 506 from the 90 515 cases since the country began conducting tests.”
https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/covid-19-cases-rise-2-506-34-deaths
SA Government News Agency. Gauteng has 909 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
2020 Apr 15 SA News
“Gauteng remains the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country – with the total number of confirmed cases pegged at 909. Johannesburg has 551 cases, Tshwane has 100, the West Rand has 35 cases, Sedibeng has 9 confirmed cases and Ekurhuleni has 148 confirmed cases. There are 66 that are unallocated. While there are 62 people currently hospitalised in various Gauteng health facilities, the provincial Health Department said it is encouraged that most COVID-19 cases have not needed hospitalisation. “Out of the people that were confirmed positive, there are 399 recoveries in the province. The department is also happy to report that out of 5 625 contacts, 1694 have been discharged and have now been cleared,” the Gauteng Department of Health said in a statement.”
https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/gauteng-has-909-confirmed-covid-19-cases
CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE
Media Release
South African Police Service. Police arrests suspect for selling fraudulent permits to informal business owners. 15 April 2020.
“A 22-year old suspected was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly selling fraudulent permits to informal business owners. It is alleged that the suspect from Olivenhoutbosch, Centurion, was selling permits to business owners who are not part of the essential services. The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation office was alerted. The team made contact with the suspect under the pretext of wanting to buy the permits. The suspect met with a team member and was immediately placed under arrest after he produced a permit for a R300 payment.”
EDUCATION
Media Release
Western Cape Cultural Affairs and Sport. Western Cape Cultural Affairs and Sport launches After School Programme online portal to assist during Coronavirus COVID-19 lockdown. 15 April 2020.
“Following the national lockdown regulations, the Western Cape After School Programme Office convened various donors and umbrella bodies to discuss the continuation of after school programmes despite school closures. The first action was to establish a curated online portal of extra-curricular resources for whole child development. The resource, which can be found on https://www.thelearningtrust.org/asp-treasure-box has been jointly developed by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport’s After School Programme Office, the Learning Trust, Assitej SA and Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and serves as a central ‘treasure box’ of resources from the 4-pillars of After School programmes.”
FINANCIAL LAW
Media Release
Department of Tourism. Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane on claims that she has been served with court papers for the review of the Tourism Relief Fund. 15 April 2020.
“The Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, dismisses with contempt claims by Afriforum to the effect that she has been served with court papers for the review of the Tourism Relief Fund. Since Afriforum made this assertion in a media statement issued on Tuesday, we have been inundated by inquiries from the public on the matter. We therefore would like to put it categorically clear to the public that no such court papers were filed with the court by Afriforum to date. Therefore, any statement issued to the contrary is disingenuous. We received papers from attorneys of Afriforum purporting to be an Urgent Court Interdict to the Relief Fund and further indicating that we should respond by 09h00 today. Our position is that those papers, which were emailed to us, did not have a court case number, meaning there is no court process, which was initiated, and we are not able to respond to court.”
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Media Release
Western Cape Community Safety. Western Cape Community Safety redeploys security to support Coronavirus COVID-19 lockdown. 15 April 2020.
“The Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, welcomes the redeployment of the Department of Community Safety’s (DOCS) Private Security and Security Support Team (SST) to support the enforcement of the lockdown in the province. DOCS have redeployed thirty-eight of its private security officers to the Department of Health’s facilities to assist with the influx of patients. Additionally, DOCS’s SST, which has a staff complement of 54 security staff, has been redeployed to the Provincial Disaster Management Centre on a 24/7 rotational basis and at selected hospital sites in support of Department of Health.The physical security deployments in support of lockdown over 24/7 rotational basis include the deployment of:
- 12 officers to assist at the Disaster Management Centre;
- 16 female SST members at 3 newly established breastfeeding clinics; and
- 12 officers to assist at Tygerberg Hospital.”
https://www.gov.za/speeches/western-cape-community-safety-redeploys-security-support-coronavirus-covid-19-lockdown-15
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Media Statement
SA Government News Agency. Non-compliant businesses shut down in Free State.
2020 Apr 15 SA News
“A Free State government-led blitz has netted 17 suspects for hiking prices on essential services and goods during the COVID-19 lockdown, among other contraventions. With the five week-long Disaster Management Regulations expected to have a dire impact on consumers and small businesses, the provincial MEC for Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Economic Affairs, Makalo Mohale, on Monday embarked on an operation aimed at monitoring compliance. The MEC, accompanied by Department officials and law enforcement agencies, visited Bulfontein, Ventersburg, Reddesburg, Smithfield, Memel, Bothavillle and Bloemfontein for noncompliance to the Covid-19 Disaster Management Regulations. During the blitz several businesses were found to be operating without valid municipal permits, overpricing food, not complying with health and safety laws and not observing laws governing asylum seekers.”
https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/non-compliant-businesses-shut-down-free-state
WATER & SANITATION
Government Gazette
Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002
Water and Sanitation Emergency Procurement COVID-19 Disaster Response Directions issued in terms of Regulation 10(8) of the Regulations issued in terms of Section 27(2). The purpose of these directions is to-
(a) give command control to the National Disaster Water Command Centre to take appropriate measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19;
(b) direct the water services authorities, water boards, irrigation boards, catchment management agencies and water user associations to perform certain tasks and to cooperate with the officials comprising the National Disaster Water Command Centre, as well as any other person authorised by the Minister to give effect to these directions;
(c) provide for the emergency procurement of goods and services required for the provision of water services through the manufacture, supply, delivery and procurement of water tanks, and related goods and services as a response to
the coronavirus pandemic in terms of the National State of Disaster, declared by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to areas identified by the National Disaster Water Command Centre and the water
services authorities;
(d) establish and regulate the administration of the National Disaster Water Command Centre for the purpose of the centralisation of emergency procurement and provision of water and sanitation equipment;
(e) capacitate the administration in the National Disaster Water Command Centre to conduct effective, accountable, efficient and transparent emergency procurement of water and sanitation equipment and provision thereof to the
affected areas; and
(t) authorise the National Disaster Water Command Centre to be responsible for the emergency procurement of water and sanitation equipment to procure directly with the manufacturers and suppliers.
GN464 GG 43231 p3 15Apr2020
http://www.gpwonline.co.za/Gazettes/Gazettes/43231_15-04_WaterSanitation.pdf
Media Statement
SA Government News Agency. Water tanker saboteurs read the riot act.
2020 Apr 15 SA News
“Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has warned that government will not tolerate the deliberate sabotage of government’s water supply interventions for the COVID-19 outbreak. This comes after the Minister was alerted that government’s initiative to curb the spread of COVID-19 through supplying water to distressed communities was being obstructed in certain parts of the country. In a statement, the Ministry said it had received information that certain people who benefitted from water tankering were interfering with the government’s programme to roll out water tanks in affected villages. “The Minister has been informed that some business people are sabotaging the delivery of water at the expense of ordinary people who are in desperate need of water,” read the statement.”
https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/water-tanker-saboteurs-read-riot-act
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