SA lockdown explained: What you need to know
It's the eve of a countrywide lockdown, and as South Africans prepare to self-isolate for 21 days at midnight, they have been asked to change their habits.
Members of the security cluster briefed the media on Wednesday night on what's going to happen as the number of infections in the country climbed to 709.
Here's a look at some of the dos and don'ts that were mentioned:
· The Police Minister Bheki Cele says no one can take their dogs for a walk or go for a run, during the lockdown.
· Shops can't sell alcohol and restaurants will shut for the next three weeks.
· Stores that don't sell essential items - like food or medicine - will be closed.
· You've been asked to buy from the closest shop to your home.
· A maximum number of 50 people will be allowed at funerals. No other gathering will be allowed.
· Anyone found breaking the rules, will face a fine, six months in jail or both.
· The Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula says long-distance rail services will stop, and commuter rails will shut down. International and domestic flights are prohibited.
· Public transport for essential service workers will run from 5am to 9am in the morning and from 4pm in the afternoon to 8pm.
· Metered taxis and e-hailing service vehicles will be allowed to carry one person either then the driver.
· A vehicle licensed to carry eight - will only be allowed to carry three now.
· There will also be a limited bus service.
· Vehicle testing and renewal centres will be closed, if your license expires, it will be deemed valid until the end of the lockdown.
Cele has also offered some guidance to people who'll be co-parenting over the 21-day lockdown.
There've been many questions around how couples, who've been separated, should go about looking after their children and conduct visitations.
He has this advice for parents: "What we encourage is that the child is where he or she is and stays with that parent, for instance, if the parents exchange the opportunity with the child. If unless you say it is essential for the child to move. Like let's say, the doctors of the child and things like those are with the other parent then that does cause the movement."
Home Affairs Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi says offices will operate with a skeleton staff.
He says at this time, they'll only issue temporary IDs, replacement birth certificates for ones that are lost and death certificates.
“We won’t issue passports at all, because there is no movement of people anywhere. We won’t issue any new Id. We won’t issue any birth certificates."
"We won’t issue any marriage certificate, new or old because there won’t be any emergency, you can wait until the 21 days. Maybe the 21 days will also give you time to think whether you want to get married or not. It will be a good time to reflect.”
Defence Minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula explains how the army will assist the police.
Listen below:
