Trade and Industry, and Competition Minister, Ebrahim Patel, announced a spate of measures to gradually ease the opening of the economy while keeping the main focus on avoiding the spread of Covid-19.
He warned that South Africa should prepare for the long haul, saying level 4 was a critical phase to prepare the economy for the next six to eight months while the virus would likely still be around. Businesses were cautioned to keep to strict health protocols and social distancing measures, while gradually opening phase by phase. He said that easing regulations further, to level 3, would depend on the cooperation of the public and increased testing for the virus.
Patel was among members of government’s Covid-19 National Command Council briefing the public in detail about the level 4 regulations. More than 850 presentations were received by government from all sectors involved during the public participation process.
In level 4, manufacturing of key products would be phased in, with only a percentage of workers to be allowed on the premises of factories or plants. He asked employers to rotate workers, and where possible to let people work from home.
Workers in the petroleum industry, at furnaces and smelters and the paper industry producing input for essential services, would be allowed to manufacture at 100% capacity.
Industries allowed to produce at 50% capacity include that of stationery, cement, construction material, the automotive industry including components, steel, rail, the shipbuilding industry, as well as winter clothing, bedding and heating.
Essential maintenance to prevent damage and to permit an orderly shutdown is also permitted. Only 30% of all other allowed manufacturing may proceed.
Retailers that sell winter clothing, bedding and linen will be allowed to operate. Stores that sell educational products and stationery will operate including; the sale of information technology services. A wider list of personal toiletries will be allowed for sale. Home office equipment will be available, and hardware will be sold. Repair shops will be allowed to operate for emergency services and vehicles sales will be allowed to a certain extent, with directions to be announced. Car hire will be open for servicing companies that are operating in level 4. E-commerce will be expanded incrementally, with a larger number of items being allowed for delivery, such as winter clothing, hot food and stationery.
The regulations for imports and exports will be relaxed slightly, but Patel urged customers to buy locally where possible. South African wine may be exported again. The construction sector will step up economic activities, including civil engineering for public works in areas like water and sanitation, roads and bridges, as well as the repair of local roads.
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