WRAP | Agricultural sector to open fully as ministers announce a raft of changes, including a time for exercise and the sale of beauty products and items for winter - but reneges on cigarettes.

The government announced a raft of changes to lockdown regulations as the country moves into an eased lockdown from Friday, which would allow people to exercise outside and order food.

Buses and rails will be opened, but under strict conditions.

Buying alcohol remains prohibited, though.

But the government has allowed the sale of some beauty products and winter clothing, bedding and items.

Most surprisingly of all, the government reneged on its decision to allow cigarettes to be sold in level four, citing possible health impacts.

While the sale of alcohol is prohibited, local farmers will be allowed to export wine and amarula.

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said travelling between provinces will remain prohibited. There will, however, be a once-off chance for people to return to the province they work in, if they had gone to be with family when the lockdown was announced.

The country will slightly ease the lockdown from 1 May to allow the economy to slowly reopen.

Focus on e-commerce

Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel said the government was asked by businesses to allow a widespread reopening, but he noted that a “cautious approach” was important.

Patel announced that e-commerce companies will be expanded incrementally, saying that winter clothing, bedding, hot foods and stationery will be added to the list of goods that will be allowed to be bought online.

He said call centres may expand their services, but under strict working conditions.

All agriculture sectors will open, Patel said, and some mining production, and more retailers.

He said, however, that the government will give the suggestions of some businesses more thought going forward.

Dlamini-Zuma said, while people shouldn’t be evicted during this time, people should still not occupy land and houses illegally.

Exercise, travelling, funerals

Dlamini-Zuma said the public was invited to comment on touted changes to the regulations for level four of the lockdown, and the government received more than 70 000 submissions.

Some of the suggestions were taken into consideration.

She said more than 2 000 people were against cigarettes being sold, and the government, after some discussion, decided to heed this suggestion, based on possible health implications.

She said the banning of alcohol was shown to help the fight against Covid-19, and hoped the continued ban of cigarettes would follow in a similar vein.

— NationalCoGTA (@NationalCoGTA) April 29, 2020

She said many people asked for hairdressers to be reopened, but this was not possible at this stage.

She said more than 22 000 people wanted the regulations to allow for exercise.

Exercise will be allowed, but under very strict conditions - people can cycle and run but only within a 5km radius of one’s home, and only between 06:00 and 09:00.

Running in a club or group is not allowed.

“We still want everyone to be at home,” Dlamini-Zuma said. “You may only leave home if you are going to work or to perform any function under level four.”

She said children would be able to move between provinces to be reunited with their homes if they are stranded.

Dlamini-Zuma said people who resume work on 1 May must return home immediately after work.

She reminded the country of the new curfew of between 20:00 and 05:00.

Regarding people who commute to far places, they will need a permit to prove they are indeed travelling to work. Ditto for students and pupils once education resumes.

— NationalCoGTA (@NationalCoGTA) April 29, 2020

Travelling between provinces will still not be allowed. This is a grey area, though, the minister said, because provinces differ in terms of the severity of the outbreak.

Funerals are still allowed, but with the same 50-person limit and only for “close relatives”, and night vigils are still not allowed.

Movement over borders will only be allowed in cases where people are stuck in other countries. They will be quarantined when they enter the country.

Dlamini-Zuma warned that crowds will still not be allowed in level four.

Download: Risk-Adjusted Strategy I Gazetted Regulations in the Schedule https://t.co/rxLpovZIPD#level4lockdown #COVID19 #CoronaVirusUpdates #StayAtHome pic.twitter.com/e7TVK13Zvr

— NationalCoGTA (@NationalCoGTA) April 29, 2020

She said major highways were crowded when the lockdown was announced when people went to be with their families. She said there will be a “once off” allowance for people to return to the provinces they work in.

She also said companies needed to be “Covid-19 ready” to ensure employees don’t fall prey to the virus.

Hotels and guest houses are not allowed, apart from quarantine and essential services.

Agriculture to open

Minister of Agriculture and Land Reform Thoko Didiza said that, during level four, supporting industries to agriculture will be open, such as mechanisation (tractor, combine services) and also shops that sell agricultural chemicals, seeds and fertiliser.

Export for all agriculture will reopen, including wine, wool and amarula.

Beekeeping and honey harvesting will reopen as well.

Harvesting will be permitted, as well as forestry operations.

Animal auctions will be allowed, but under conditions of a limit of 50 people and physical distancing must be maintained.

- Kerushun Pillay

Summary: Risk-Adjusted Strategy Regulations #Level4Restrictions #level4lockdown #COVID19 #CoronaVirusUpdates #StayHomeSA pic.twitter.com/0kdb1DZ0e7

— NationalCoGTA (@NationalCoGTA) April 29, 2020

Agriculture to open

Minister of Agriculture and Land Reform, Thoko Didiza, said that during level four, supporting industries to agriculture will be open, such as mechanisation (tractor, combine services) and also shops that sell agricultural chemicals, seeds and fertiliser.

She thanked farmers and farm workers for continuing to provide food for the country.

Export for all agriculture will reopen, including wine, wool and amarula. Bee-keeping and honey harvesting will reopen as well.

Harvesting will be permitted, as well as forestry operations. Animal auctions will be allowed, but under conditions of a limit of 50 people and physical distancing must be maintained.

"With humility" Mthembu announces that the scheduled briefing for 18:00 has been moved to 19:30 with minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Minister Mthembu says the concern of government is how to deal with Covid-19, the virus doesn't discriminate.

SA doesn't report on the ethnicity of those infected and deaths as a result of Covid-19, this is guided by the WHO. The WHO has never asked South Africa for the the race or culture of those who have died or were infected says Mthembu.

"Every death of any person is one death too many," says Mthembu.

Permanent residents or refugees registered on home affairs system and are residents qualify for the R350 Covid-19 relief fund.

The person must be over 18, not receiving social grants, not receiving stipend from NSFAS, must be unemployed, not receiving income, UIF or doesn't qualify for UIF.

16224 tanks have been delivered, 9223 of them have been installed.

The hardware shops had already been closed by the time tanks were sent to areas says Sisulu.

Now that hardware shops will be open tanks will be mounted and can be used.

"We are halfway through with filling up the tanks," says Sisulu and admits that the department had not considered the lockdown regulations when delivering tanks.

Minister Sisulu says the 44 pumps have been cleared at the Vaal dam, where flooding had been happening.

Zulu urges people who give food parcels to work with the communities, NPOs and NGOs.

Water, sanitation and informal settlements summary:  

Minister Lindiwe Sisulu says that water tanks and tankers have been provisioned for communities, but announces that thieves are stealing water tanks.  

She calls for maximum punishment.  

Sisulu announces that land invasions and evictions are "absolutely" illegal during the lockdown period and says the department has been working to place people in housing units.  

People who live in remote areas should call 0800 200 200 to have water tanks or tankers delivered to their area.

Summary of social development:  

Social grant payments will not be delayed as they are critical to poor people, said Minister Lindiwe Zulu. The department has access to a budget of R43 million to provide food parcels for vulnerable people and the grants will be increased as announced.  

The payment of grants will be staggered to prevent large numbers at pay-points and psycho-social support provided for those who survive coronavirus and abuse.  

The minister highlighted the increase of gender-based violence during the lockdown.  

Older person grants will be paid on the 3rd on the month and there are conditions in applying for the special Covid distress grant: Applicants must provide proof of identity, address, and have a bank account.  

Zulu said that the department was working to reach thee unbanked.

Calls on people in remote to call the department for areas which do not have water.  

The number is 0800 200 200

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How examinations will be impacted, according the earlier presentation by the director-general of the Department of Basic Education.

Committee members are now given the opportunity to pose their questions and provide their input, and the chairperson reads out the order in which the members should proceed, in an attempt to regain some semblance of order to the meeting.

A question is raised about the logic of drawing comparisons with schools in Sweden, because schools and pupils/teachers in SA face different challenges entirely, with a number of people living with diseases that compromise their immune systems.