The move to lockdown level three will see more industries resuming operations, learners returning to school and the transport sector must be responsive to enable this mobility of both workers and learners.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula, in announcing regulations that will apply as from 1 June, said the new regulations remain a balancing act between that of ensuring mobility while still curbing the spread of the virus.
In terms of public transport, the minister said long distance public transport crossing provincial, metropolitan or district boundaries is permitted under lockdown level three on condition that public transport vehicles are only permitted to transport persons permitted to travel between provinces in terms of the regulations.
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Such travel, he said, is restricted to:
- Persons undertaking work responsibilities or performing a service permitted under level three, provided they are in possession of the requisite permit.
- Persons moving to a new place of residence;
- Persons caring for an immediate family member;
- Learners or students who have to commute to and from schools or institutions of higher learning during periods when these are permitted to operate;
- Attendance of funerals;
- Transportation of mortal remains;
- Obtaining medical treatment;
- Persons returning to their place of residence from a quarantine or isolation facility;
- Movement of children; and
- Members of Parliament performing oversight responsibilities.
The time restrictions on all road-based public transport modes are lifted, the minister announced.
Public transport will now be allowed to operate throughout the day.
He announced the following capacity restrictions:
- Minibus-taxis remain at 70% loading capacity;
- Buses must adhere to a maximum loading capacity of 50%, taking due regard of standing passengers;
- eHailing and metred taxis remain at 50% loading capacity;
- Shuttle, chauffeur and charter services remain at 50% loading capacity.
The minister said these regulations were guided by government’s risk-adjusted approach.
“We will further continue with our engagement with the stakeholders within the transport sector to find solutions to the difficult task at hand of balancing the competing interests and preservation of lives and supporting livelihoods,” he concluded.
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