- Adami Geldenhuys
Covid-19 Regulatory Update: 29 September 2021 to 5 October 2021
This edition refers to the move to adjusted level 1 on 1 October 2021, new directions published by the Minister of Home Affairs and information relating to booster shots, mandatory vaccination, vaccine mandates and corruption.
ALERT LEVEL
Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002
Adjusted Alert Level 1
Adjusted Alert Level 1: Amendments to Regulations issued in terms of Section 27(2): Amendment of RGN480 of 29 April 2020 as amended by RGN608 of 28 May 2020; RGN714 of 25 June 2020; RGN763 of 12 July 2020; RGN846 of 31 July 2020; GN891 of 17 August 2020; GN999 of 18 September 2020; GN1011 of 20 September 2020; GN1053 of 1 October 2020; GN1104 of 21 October 2020; GN1199 of 11 November 2020; GN1290 of 3 December 2020; GN1346 of 15 December 2020; GN1370 of 17 December 2020; GN1421 of 24 December 2020; RGN1423 of 29 December 2020; RGN1435 of 29 December 2020; RGN11 of 11 January 2021; RGN69 of 1Feb2021; RGN92 of 13Feb2021; RGN93 of 13Feb2021; RGN152 of 28 February 2021; RGN284 of 30Mar2021; GN376 of 23 April 2021; RGN477 of 31May2021; RGN530 of 15Jun2021; RGN532 of 17Jun2021; RGN565 of 27Jun2021; RGN567 of 29Jun2021; RGN610 of 11Jul2021; RGN612 of 14July2021; RGN614 of 14July2021; RGN651 of 25Jul2021; GN669 of 30 July2021 and RGN869 of 12Sept2021.
In operation on publication in the Gazette.
Determination of Alert Level
Determination of Alert Level: Coronavirus COVID-19 Alert Level 1 will apply nationally from 00H01 on 1 October 2021.
Gerber, Jan. Lockdown: SA moves to Level 1 as govt set to introduce vaccine certificates. -
Khoza, Amanda. 'We are guided by science': Ramaphosa on ending state of disaster. -
Extract from article: “And what if tomorrow I announced that the national state of disaster ended, and then another wave cometh and then we have got to go back to another state of disaster again. So we have reduced and lightened the restrictions on the state of disaster to enable the economy to go back to where it was pre-Covid and, to a large extent, I think that is now beginning to happen.”
Stoltz, Eunice. South Africa moves to alert level 1 after 130-day Covid-19 third wave. -
CORRUPTION
Covid-19 Government Response
Maeko, Thando. Corruption undermined SA’s Covid-19 response, Mboweni says. - 2021 Oct 4 Business Day
Extract from article: “Former finance minister bemoans the channelling of resources to connected politicians as leading to a credibility crisis in government at all levels.”
Digital Vibes
Felix, Jason. Ramaphosa authorises release of Digital Vibes report, SIU says Anban Pillay should be charged. - 2021 Sept 29 News24
Harper, Paddy. Mkhize’s conduct was ‘at best improper, at worst unlawful’. -
PPE
Bhengu, Lwandile. SIU makes 33 disciplinary referrals in investigations into R193 million procurement contracts in Limpopo health. - 2021 September 29 News24
Extract from article: “The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has made 33 disciplinary referrals - and 10 referrals to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) based on investigations into R193 million procurement contracts for personal protective equipment (PPE) in the Limpopo Department of Health.”
Doekaran murder case postponed. - 2021 Oct 1 ENCA
EC education dept official and family members arrested in PPE scandal. - 2021 Sept 30 Citizen
Extract from article: “Alinani Trading was paid more than R2.7 million for the supply and delivery of PPE in schools.”
Mkhwanazi, Siyabonga. Lamola wants SIU to recover R5bn stolen through dodgy PPE contracts. - 2021 Oct 5 IOL
Extract from article: “Justice Minister Ronald Lamola has called on the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to clamp down on corruption as it is pursuing billions of rand in the courts for PPE contracts irregularly awarded.”
Ters
Mabena, Sipho. R180k Ters theft allegedly on SIU radar. - 2021 Oct 4 Citizen
Van Zyl, Andries. SACM probed for 'fraudulent' TERS claims of R6,2 million. -
HOME AFFAIRS
Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002
Home Affairs: Directions issued in terms of Regulation 4(8) and 4(10) of the Regulations made under section 27(2): Measures to prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19. Amendment of Directions issued by Minister of Home Affairs published under GN416 in GG 43162 of 26 March 2020, as amended by RGN518 of 9 May 2020, GN664 of 10 June 2020, RGN749 of 3 July 2020, GN843 of 31 July 2020, GN923 of 25 August 2020, GN1029 of 30 September 2020, GN1142 of 23 October 2020, GN1277 of 03 December 2020, GN16 of 14January 2021, GN271 of 26Mar2021 and GN398 of 30Jun2021.
In operation on publication in the Gazette.
LOCKDOWN CONTRAVENTIONS
Magill, Tred. Cops go after Cape Town restaurants, clubs caught flouting lockdown regulations. - 2021 Oct 2 News
Pijoos, Ivan. Gauteng cops arrest scores of drunk drivers. - 2021 Oct 4 SowetanLive
SOCIAL RELIEF
Gontsana, Mary-Anne. No Covid relief for thousands of children’s centres. -
Mafata, Masego. Protesters accuse SASSA officials of bribery. - 2021 Oct 4 Groundup
Extract from article: “About 40 people picketed outside the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) office in Thokoza, Johannesburg on Monday. They have accused officials there of accepting bribes in exchange for assistance at this office. The group also demanded that the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant application process be improved.”
VACCINES
Booster Shots
Extract from media statement: “EMA’s human medicines committee (CHMP) has concluded that an extra dose of the COVID-19 vaccines Comirnaty (BioNTech/Pfizer) and Spikevax (Moderna) may be given to people with severely weakened immune systems, at least 28 days after their second dose.”
Israel requires Covid-19 booster shots for stricter “green pass”. - 2021 Oct 4 Daily Maverick
J&J to seek U.S. FDA authorization of booster shot this week. - 2021 Oct 4 Daily Maverick
Intellectual Property
The TRIPS waiver and the business of vaccine manufacturing. - 2021 Sep 10 Spoor & Fisher
Extract from article: “To waive patents is to undermine the importance of IP, which will have a hugely detrimental effect on incentives for drug innovation – both as this relates to vaccine development for emerging variants of Covid-19 and other areas of medical research.”
Mandatory Vaccination
Maromo, Jonisayi. Mandatory vaccination: ’Government has not done enough to educate, encourage communities’. - 2021 Oct 4 IOL
Extract from article: “The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said on Monday it believes the government has not done enough to educate communities and to actively encourage vaccination before a consideration is made on mandatory vaccinations in South Africa.”
McCain, Nicole. Mandatory Covid-19 vaccination not really infringement on your rights – SAHRC. - 2021 Oct 4 News24
Mkentane, Luyolo. State will not ‘force anyone to be vaccinated’, Cyril Ramaphosa says. -
New York’s largest healthcare provider fires 1 400 unvaccinated workers. - 2021 Oct 5 SABC News
Ramaphosa says discussions around making Covid jabs mandatory continue. - 2021 Sept 30 EWN
Vaccinations could be made compulsory in South Africa as last resort: commission. -
Misinformation
YouTube will remove videos with misinformation about any vaccine. - 2021 Sept 29 BusinessTech
Vaccine Mandate
Ferreira, Emsie. Vaccine mandate quandary heading to court, Concourt candidate predicts. - 2021 Oct 4 Mail & Guardian
Omarjee, Hajra. France shares its experience on Covid-19 vaccine mandate with SA. -
Vaccine Passports / Certificates
Vaccine passports could be rolled out in SA from next week. - 2021 Sept 29 Citizen