THE eThekwini Municipality has issued a statement to say they cannot authorise essential service providers to operate during the nation-wide lockdown set to commence at midnight on Thursday.
This as the municipality’s Disaster Management and Fire Services has been inundated with calls and requests to issue permits and sign off for essential services during the 21-day lockdown.
The eThekwini Municipality’s Communications Unit issued the statement on Thursday.
“The Municipality is not authorised and will not vouch for the activities of any other agencies or companies except municipal departments and services,” said spokesperson for the municipality, Msawakhe Mayisela.
Essential service providers are responsible for issuing letters to their staff, he added.
“Only CEO’s of individual companies are tasked with this responsibility should their service be deemed essential as per the Gazetted Regulations for lockdown,” he said.
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In his speech on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the categories of people who will be exempted from the lockdown are health workers in the public and private sectors, emergency personnel, those in security services – such as the police, traffic officers, military medical personnel, soldiers – and other persons necessary for our response to the pandemic.
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“It will also include those involved in the production, distribution and supply of food and basic goods, essential banking services, the maintenance of power, water and telecommunications services, laboratory services, and the provision of medical and hygiene products,” he said.
During the lockdown, individuals will not be allowed to leave their homes except under strictly controlled circumstances, such as to seek medical care, buy food, medicine and other supplies or collect a social grants.
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