MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

President Announces 21 Day Nationwide Lockdown

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Nationwide Lockdown as from Midnight 26 March 2020

Until Midnight 16 April 2020 all South Africa citizens must stay at home

Exempted – Health workers, emergency personnel, security services, those involved in food industry, medical and hygiene personnel.

Individuals not allowed to leave their homes except to – seek medical care, buy food.

All shops and businesses will be closed except for pharmacies, banks, supermarkets, healthcare providers.

Companies essential to production of food to remain open.

Provision wil be made for essential transport services

This is necessary to fundamentally break the chain of infection.

SANDF will police the lockdown.

Community health teams will expand testing and screening.

Emergency water supplies are being provided to informal settlements and rural areas.

International travelers will be confined to their hotels until a 14 day quarantine period is completed.

Many people will lose their jobs.

Measures to mitigate the economic impact will be deployed.

Interventions include:

A solidarity fund which people can contribute to to help track the spread of the virus and help[ the vulnerable. www.solidarityfund.co.za – Government has provided R150 Million to the fund.

Rupert and Oppenheimer families have pledged R1 Billion each.

Regulations are in place to prevent unjust price hikes.

There is no need for stockpiling of any items.

Businesses in the informal sector will be supported.

Old Age pensions will be available for collection from 30 March 2020.

Government will support people whose lives will be affected negatively.

Employees will receive wage payments through a fund.

Employees who fall ill will be paid through the compensation fund.

Banks will be exempt from certain competition restraints.

Reserves with the UIF system may also be utilised.

Businesses that may be in distress can also apply for relief.

SARS will look after tax compliant employers and employees with a special grant.

Penalties and interest will not be applied to qualifying tax compliant businesses for a period of 6 months.

R500 Million available immediately to small business immediately.

R3 Billion available in Industrial Funding for industries that may be in distress.

R200 Million available to tourism businesses that may be in distress.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.