What Ladysmith residents need to know about the 21-day lockdown

A nationwide lockdown will come into effect as of midnight tonight (March 26). President Cyril Ramaphosa said the lockdown was mandatory and had to be implemented to ensure that the spread of the Covid-19 virus is reduced.

– There will be no sale of liquor at ALL.

– You can buy food at available outlets to cook at home – no fast foods or restaurants.

– No walking of dogs is allowed. Also, there is to be no jogging, walking or bicycle riding.

– You will be liable to pay a fine or spend six months in prison for movement without a specific reason.

– A special team is in place to deal with domestic violence or woman / child abuse. They can be reached on 0800150150

– The SANDF and SAPS are ready to enforce no movement for 21 days.

–  Roadblocks and foot patrols will be in place to enforce the restriction of movement.

– Ports and airports, as announced, will be closed.

– FAKE news is being spread and will be dealt with harshly, as it is VERY dangerous to cause panic. The culprits will be charged.

– Home affairs will issue temporary IDs. Repeats ONLY.

–  Replacement birth certificates will be issued by SASSA. Repeats ONLY.

– Death certificates will be issued.

–  All international and domestic flights will be shut down.

– Taxis will only be allowed to transport essential services people, from 5am to 9am and 4pm to 8pm ONLY. Measures must be in place for social distancing and commuters must sanitize after every trip.

– Limited buses for essential services only.

–  Drivers’ licensing centres will be closed. If your licence expires, it will be valid until after the lockdown.

– Spazas and grocery stores are allowed to remain open. Malls will be closed, except for grocery stores, banks and pharmacies.

– If people are asked to quarantine themselves, they will be forced to do so.

Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake newsDear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za)