Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula published a number of new directives that must be adhered to during the Level 4 stage of the soft lockdown.
The new directives were published on Monday, May 4, and their primary focus is to expand the current transport rules for the new lockdown stage.
The first set of changes pertain to the curfew, and clarifies the operating times for both the public and private sectors of transport.
Level 4 lockdown allows a window period for South Africans to travel between provinces, which will take place between May 1 and 7. During this period, citizens will not need a permit to travel across provinces and different municipalities.
This said, there is a curfew in place that prohibits South Africans from travelling between 8pm and 5am, unless they have an essential worker permit.
Mbalula announced that inter-provincial travel will be allowed with buses, private vehicle and taxis, and these journeys may be completed even during the curfew hours.
– Intra-provincial, metropolitan areas and districts public transport is permitted to operate from 5am to 8pm with a grace period of an hour within which to complete the journey and drop off at 9pm;
– Intra-provincial, metropolitan areas and districts travel by private vehicle is permitted to operate from 5am to 8pm with a grace period of an hour within which to complete the journey at 9pm;
– The transportation of persons rendering essentials services or permitted service must be in line with the operating shifts, work time schedules as determined by the responsible head of operations, Manager, Head of the Department or a person with responsible authority within such institution;
– The operating shifts or work schedules or time table should be stamped and signed by such person with authority as contemplated in direction 8(2) (a) above;
– Hot food delivery services is permitted to start from 9am to 7pm.
Mbalula will also extend the validity of licenses – including learner’s and driving licenses, along with motor vehicle disks, roadworthy certificates and temporary permits.
This grace period will be valid for 30 days following the publication of the directive, on May 4. Motor trade number licenses that have expired during the lockdown will be deemed valid and extended for a grace period of six months after the publication of the directives.
– All driving licence testing centres and vehicle testing centres must sanitise or provide hygiene dispenser for washing of hands for their client when entering their premises;
– No person will be allowed to enter a building, place or premises if they do not wear a cloth face mask or a homemade item that covers nose and mouth;
– All driving licence testing centres and vehicle testing ‘centres must put measures in place to adhere to physical distancing to curb the spread of the virus;
– All driving licence testing centres and vehicle testing centres must put in place procedures for cleaning and disinfection of their premises.
– All driving licence testing centres and vehicle testing ‘centres must put measures in place to adhere to physical distancing to curb the spread of the virus;
– All driving licence testing centres and vehicle testing centres must put in place procedures for cleaning and disinfection of their premises.
Mbalula stipulated the directives for transport capacity. These include:
– Public Transport sedan vehicles are limited to carry not more than 50% of its permissible passenger carrying capacity, sedan vehicle with carrying capacity of five persons are allowed to carry two passengers plus a driver (three persons);
– E-hailing, meter taxis, shuttle services, chauffeur driven vehicles are permitted to carry not more than 50% of their permissible passenger-carrying capacity;
– Mini and Midibus Taxi vehicles must not carry more than 70% of their maximum licensed passenger-carrying capacity;
– Buses are permitted to carry not more than 50% of their permissible passenger carrying capacity which includes both seating and standing passengers.
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