ABOUT 1.5 million more South Africans will from 1 May return to work as government begins to lift a fraction of COVID-19 lockdown regulations.
Trade, Industry and Commission Minister Ebrahim Patel on Saturday detailed the classification of industries as part of the risk adjusted strategy on re-opening the economy.
The hard lockdown will end from 1 May, with the country heading to level 4.
Level 4 will see all agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing and related services, including the export of agricultural products, permitted to operate.
Automotive manufacturing, including components, will be scaling up in phases to 50% employment. Stationery production will be scaling up in phases to 50% employment. Cement, other construction material, and hardware, will from next month also scale up in phases of up to 50% employment. All other manufacturing will scale up to 20% employment.
In construction and related services, road and bridge projects, other public works civil engineering projects; and critical maintenance and repairs will commence.
From next month, restaurants will be able to sell hot cooked food for home delivery. Sit down or pick-up are still not permitted.
While the ban on the sale of alcohol will remain in level 4, stationery and educational books as well as tobacco product sales will commence. Personal ICT equipment, including computers, mobile telephones and other home office equipment, will be permitted in the relaxed regulations.
The updated regulations will also lift a ban on ICT services for all private and business customers.
Trade, Industry and Commission Minister Ebrahim Patel said recycling of glass, paper and metal, including by informal recyclers, will be permitted at 50% capacity.
Fitness enthusiasts will breathe a sigh of relief as they will from Friday be able exercise under certain restrictions yet to be announced. These include no training in groups and a ban remaining on recreational facilities and gyms.
Patel reiterated that all COVID-19 health and safety protocols will still have to be followed at all times. This, he said, includes the observance of guidelines for social distancing, sanitation and hygiene, and use of appropriate personal protective equipment, like cloth face masks, as determined by the National Department of Health.
During level 4, people will be permitted to travel to perform and acquire services only where such services cannot be provided from the safety of one’s home.
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