President Cyril Ramaphosa moved the country to Adjusted Alert Level 3 from 25 July and announced the reopening of schools and the sale of alcohol. This comes after South Africa passed the peak of the third wave of Covid-19 infections. Ramaphosa was addressing the nation on 25 July on government’s efforts to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. He also announced measures to recover the economy and provide relief to the vulnerable in the wake of unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
New measures:
– Curfew remains, 10pm – 4am.
– Interprovincial travel for leisure resumes.
– Non-essential establishments like restaurants, taverns, bars and fitness centres opens and closes by 9pm
– Gatherings allowed, to a maximum of 50 indoors and 100 outdoors – such as religious services, political events and social gatherings.
– The limits on venue capacity also apply to restaurants, gyms, fitness centres, bars, taverns and similar places.
– Attendance at funerals and cremations limited to 50. Night vigils and after-funeral gatherings prohibited.
– Alcohol sales from retail outlets for off-site consumption permitted between 10am and 6pm from Monday to Thursday. Alcohol sales for on-site consumption permitted up to 8pm.
- – Schools re-open on 26 July.
Vaccination
The rate of vaccination is to be increased. Ages 18 to 34 to be vaccinated from 1 September. People will be allowed to present themselves at vaccination sites without an appointment and be registered and vaccinated.
Economic recovery and relief
Ramaphosa said KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng were hit by ‘deliberate, planned and coordinated acts of violence’ designed to create the conditions for unrest, leading to the loss of more than 300 lives, the looting of shops, warehouses and factories, damage to critical infrastructure, and disruption of the country’s economy. Government has increased the deployment of SAPS and SANDF in KZN and Gauteng hotspots, as well as key economic and government infrastructure, shopping centres, warehouses and factories. Security forces are keeping critical supply routes open and safeguarding the transport of goods. Specialised law enforcement are investigating the violence and those behind it, with a view to speedy arrests and effective prosecutions. There are special measures in place to manage the large number of suspects who have been arrested for offences related to the unrest. SAPS has activated its Community Policing Strategy which has involved communities in preventing further incidents. Further arrests expected of those who conceptualised, planned and executed actions that led to destruction and loss of life.
Measures:
- – Reinstatement of the monthly R350 Social Relief of Distress Grant until 31 March 2022. Unemployed caregivers who receive a Child Support Grant can apply.
- – Government is contributing R400 million to the Humanitarian Crisis Relief Fund established by the Solidarity Fund.
- – Businesses that are insured will be covered by SASRIA.
- – Businesses not insured such as small and medium-sized businesses, formal or informal, will be supported by government.
- – Government is reprioritising funding for SMMEs affected by the pandemic through a once-off business survival funding mechanism.
- – COVID-19 TERS scheme is extended for those sectors which were affected by Alert Level 4 restrictions during the past 28 days.
- – UIF to employees who have lost jobs due to the unrest.
- – Expansion of the Employment Tax Incentive for four months to include any employee earning below R6 500 and to increase the incentive amount by up to R750 per month.
- – PAYE taxes deferred for three months to provide businesses with additional cash flow, with an automatic deferral of 35 per cent of PAYE liabilities with revenue below R100 million.
- – Payment of excise taxes for alcohol sector deferred for three months
Ramaphosa said that the capacity and preparedness of security forces are strengthened to prevent similar incidents in future. This includes responding more quickly to reports of extortion by criminal groups as businesses start to rebuild, especially in KZN. “Anyone who threatens or engages in violence will face consequences. While we have acknowledged that our response was too slow, our security forces have demonstrated that they are able to ensure stability and order. South Africans have demonstrated to the world that we are committed to democratic government, that we oppose violence and criminality, and that we will stand up to anyone who seeks to destabilise our country, “ said Ramaphosa.
