COVID -19 Update – Alert Level 1 and the Easing of Restrictions.
On 16 September 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the easing of the risk-adjusted strategy of the national lockdown to Alert Level 1, which commenced at midnight on 20 September 2020. Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, published the gazetted Alert Level 1 Regulations on 18 September 2020 (“the Regulations”) more...
The long walk to freedom: the ‘cans’ and ‘still cant’s’ of the Alert Level 2 Regulations
On Tuesday, 18 August 2020, at 0h00, the South African national lockdown was downgraded from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2. Regulations prescribing the legal parameters of the Alert Level 2 restrictions and allowances were published on the same day. For many South Africans, the Alert Level 2 Regulations (“the Regulations”) provide the first more...
COVID-19 Update – Alert Level 3 Stays in place (with further restrictions) as we prepare for “the storm”:
His address did not declare an escalation of the alert level currently in place, as widely expected, but rather confirmed that whilst the Alert Level 3 Regulations would, for now, remain in force, that these Regulations would be further limited and refined in certain respects. The increase in the degree of restriction under the Level 3 Regulations was justified by the President as being necessary to curb the impending storm predicted early on by experts advising government
Airbnb Guests Risk More Than Cabin Fever
Airbnb hosts and guests be warned: changes in the Regulations issued in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 may put a mark on your criminal record. In a nutshell, the Regulations issued by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs expressly prohibit Airbnbs from being open to the more...
The ‘Lockdown’ on Contracts
The nationwide lockdown and regulations issued in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act (“the Lockdown” and “the Regulations”) has resulted in a sudden and rapid release of legal articles setting out and explaining Lockdown’s impacts on a wide array of contracts. Over this period, we’ve found our clients asking similar questions and more...
The lockdown is unconstitutional – De Beer and Others v Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
The lockdown is unconstitutional! The North Gauteng High Court’s decision in De Beer and Others v Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (21542/2020). this means that for the next 14 business days, South Africans will continue to live under the regulations of Alert Level 3. Before the expiry of those 14 days, the Minister must republish regulations which give due consideration to the rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.
The Fortnight Ahead: Amendments to the Lockdown Regulations following its Extension:
Following the declaration by President on 15 April 2020 that the national lockdown will be extended by two weeks, various amendments to the existing lockdown Regulations were published on 16 April 2020 (“the Amendments”). These amendments will govern private and commercial transactions and restrictions until the lockdown is lifted, which for now is set as being on 01 May 2020. This article will briefly discuss the most relevant of these amendments and their impact.
COVID-19: Property transactions, the Deed’s Office and the Master’s Office during lockdown
Previous articles have been published by us advising on the impact of COVID-19 and the national lockdown on our daily lives, including that on business and legal practitioners. This article focuses on how the lockdown will affect property transactions as well as the administration of estates.
COVID-19- a National State of Disaster: What do the regulations mean for me?
On 15 March 2020, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, declared a national state of disaster, citing special circumstances warranting such declaration in terms of Section 27(1) of the Act. Furthermore, Dr Mmaphaka Tau, in his capacity as the Head of the National Disaster Management Centre, classifying the COVID-19 more...