NATIONAL NEWS - An indication of life in South Africa under Phase 4 of lockdown emerged today, Saturday 25 April, at a ministerial briefing held in Pretoria.
At least three senior ministers in the cabinet of president Cyril Ramaphosa attended the briefing and gave information.
The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel and Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu, were present to provide information.
It was emphasised that consultations are ongoing and some of the regulations will only be made public next week. Phase 4 will come into effect on Friday 1 May.
There was some good news for lovers of fast foods, but those wanting to exercise will have to wait until Thursday when regulations regarding the matter will be made public.
It will also only then be known if people will be allowed to walk with their dogs.
Wearing a face mask will be mandatory when leaving your home.
Dlamini-Zuma said that since the Spanish flu-pandemic, the world has never seen something like this. The Spanish flu and the Great Depression had a impact on the economy of the world. The latest situation is also having a major impact.
South Africa's economy was already in a weak position before Covid-19. The virus also exposed some of the faultlines in South Africa; such as poverty and hunger.
She stressed that although the country will move into phase 4, it is still a lockdown. There will be a few changes and more people would be able to go to work.
She warned that if people do not stick to the rules of phase 4, government will have to go back to phase 5 and even perhaps more stringent measures than phase 5. If the numbers decline, South Africa will be able to move to phase 3 and even beyond.
This matter is in the hands of each and every South African and the lockdown is not about punishing anybody.
Regulations about exercise will be made public on Thursday. Exercise will be allowed under strict conditions and no walking or jogging in groups will be allowed.
Patel said a phased approach is used to allow more people to return to work. Moving too fast entails risks, therefore we will proceed with caution. It is a difficult situation as everybody wants to get back to work.
In Phase 4, an extra 1,5 million people will be able to leave their homes and go to work – about four out 10.
Stationery will be sold to enable people to prepare for the reopening of schools. More details about the schools will be announced next week.
In Phase 4, we will be able to order more products online, including hot meals.
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