
RP: Matlou Setati Consumer education aligned with World

Health Organisation and Hygiene Regulations

of the Department of Health

• Align internal policies with the WHO

Advice for Food Business

• Align Internal Policies with

CGCSA/NICD FAQ guidelines

• DoH Minister recommended cloth

masks be used by the public

• Where no other protective and social

distancing measures are provided for

employees e.g. Till screen protectors,

we recommend usage of cloth masks

in support of the Ministers call

• Gloves-Follow GMP and Hygiene

regulations norms as before COVID-

19 (Frequent Hand washing with

soapy water and sanitisation is

sufficient)

• Regulation R.480 of 29/04/2020 –

Wearing of cloth masks or homemade

covering mandatory for all persons in

public or using public transport

19 and are being fined or stores are

being closed.

We have written to the Ministers of

Health, Department of Trade, Industry

and Competition, as well as the DoH

Food Control, South Africa Police

Service over the weekend to request

that all government departments are

informed of when gloves and masks

are to be used, reinforcing that this is

in line with the World Health

Organisation’s recommendations.

Members urged to continue sharing

the WHO/DoH info when approached

by law enforcement (labour, health &

security).

Positive cases at

retail/manufacturing sites

Protocols developed on steps that must be

taken should employees test positive for

COVID-19. *Guideline shared with DoH and

Provinces in case they need to develop a

national one. Will keep members updated as

and when an official document is finalised.

Protocols include process to be

followed, key persons to contact,

protocols for deep cleaning the sites

(disinfecting) as well as guidelines

regarding site closures during cleaning.


Guidelines shared with members. See

CGCSA Advice for Food Businesses.

Facilities may be opened once

decontamination and Risk Assessment

are finalised (inform Local EHP and

Labour once done - Advice from EHP at

National level).

Food Safety and

Hygiene under

COVID-19

Application of new unlegislated

Food safety & hygiene requirements

Food Control DOH has advised as follows:

In so far as we all know, food safety before,

during and after the pandemic is non-

negotiable.

The Acts and Regulations, particularly in

Health, have not needed amending or

changing and thus remain applicable before,

during and after the pandemic or lockdown.

Covid-19 is NOT a Food Safety issue -

i.e. it has not identified to be a route or

cause of/for transmission. There is only

speculation that the origin of this virus

is from wild/exotic animal/

R.638 still applicable and no

amendments under Disaster

Management Act as yet.

Social distancing

protocols

Social Distancing Protocols not

explicitly prescribed by regulations

leading to individual interpretation

at enforcement and implementation

level.

Social distancing at retailers and

manufacturing facilities - a work in progress.

Retailers implementing distancing by using

trolleys and markings on the floor in till

queues.

Ongoing. Retail and manufacturing

facilities to ensure social distancing of

employees and customers at all times.

Manage productions on minimal staff

where possible. Manage people in

stores to avoid enforcement for non-

compliance.

Total number of people in a facility Social distancing and rule of 100 which was

then amended to 50 people (funeral

gathering) is transferred to the work floor by

enforcement official,

Currently there is application of 50

people (including staff) as per Minister

of Police’s interview. We have

submitted this to the DTI and Minister

of Police for further clarity. In our

opinion, the 50 people as per


Requirements stipulated in Regulation No.

R.480 of 29 April 2020: 'adequate space'

means not more than one person per one and a

half metres of floor space: See Regulation 5 on

page 9.

regulations is a requirement for funeral

gatherings and none is prescribed for

manufacturing and retail stores as yet.

Letter to Minister of Police sent

Members to continue minimising

number of people in facilities to allow

social distancing (resubmitted issue to

the Task Force for review).

HMR

SAPS shutting down HMR counters

in stores.

RP: Abie Nelson

Working daily with SAPS NATJOC / Core

Command Centre and the military to resolve.

Ongoing. List of essential food and

beverage requested from the DTI.

A guide document is being drafted to

define the type of food and non-

alcoholic beverages as outlined in the

COVID-19 regulation Annexure B part

A1.

Closed. Hot food is allowed (ONLY

DELIVERY).

Operation for HMR (pre-prepared

meals for takeaways)

Seeking written confirmation on options to

enable the continued operation of HMR

Included in terms of regulation – will go to

NATJOINTS for decision and clarification.


DELIVERY).

Clarity on regulatory interpretation Business for South Africa’s lawyers have

released legal opinion citing that hot

meals are permissible and in line with

regulation.


CGCSA advises members to not sell

HMR yet until official clarity is provided

by COGTA. This matter has also been

logged with NATJOINTS.

COGTA announced lockdown

amendments, citing that hot meals are

not allowed to be sold. We are awaiting

the gazette for clarity because HMR is

not included in the amended

regulations.

COGTA issued a gazette on 20 April

2020 with an amendment that prohibits

sale of cooked hot foods (cooked hot

food excluded from the essential

classification).


DELIVERY).

Uncooked food for Informal Traders Seeking clarity from COGTA on regulations

regarding uncooked foods.

Informal traders permitted to sell

uncooked food and cooked hot food

(hot FOOD ONLY DELIVERY) (per

Circular No. 9 of 2020 from COGTA).

Convenience Stores The convenience stores are not allowed

to sell HMR (ONLY DELIVERY OF HOT

FOOD ALLOWED).

Working Operating hours for C-Stores

need to be aligned to the regulated

operating hours.


Alcohol Listed as non-essential item Liquor industry has lobbied government on

this.

Government has acknowledged receipt

of the letter sent through by liquor

industry and have advised that they will

respond to proposals made this week

some of which include off consumption

and delivery of liquor to be permitted,

Limited hours of opening and closing

and good hygiene and social

distancing. The Gauteng Liquor Forum

has issued an ultimatum to the

President that he relaxes the

regulations or else they will proceed

against him in court. We have agreed

as a council that we do not advocate

for this approach and will await

government feedback on the letter sent

through by the liquor industry.

Looting Numerous incidents where liquor

stores experienced a spike in looting.

Submission to request the

transportation of goods to safe

warehousing storage has been

submitted. SAPS is willing to assist in

escorting movement of alcohol from

retail stores to DC’s.

Supply chain Alcohol industry has raw material that is

grain based and the agriculture industry

is experiencing challenges. Due to the

closure of the alcohol industry, raw

material such as barley, apples etc., are


perishable goods. Exports are now

allowed which eases strain on supply

chain.

There is a shortage of yeast currently as

there has been a spike in people making

their own concussions of liquor. This is a

serious health risk to consumers.

Home Brews There is a shortage of yeast currently as

there has been a spike in people making

their own concussions of liquor. This is a

serious health risk to consumers.

Neilsen stats for South Africa show an

increase of 232% on yeast sales in the

first 2 weeks of April. An extra 10,6

Million has been spend on yeast vs the

2019 weekly average. Yeast is the fastest

growing FMCG category.

The country has experienced two deaths

as of a result of people brewing

concoctions

Agility and education As the ban on alcohol will possibly not

be lifted during lockdown. It’s important

for alcohol industry to start thinking

about up and down stream

opportunities such as education on


abuse of alcohol and support the

government to contain alcohol abuse.

Manufacturers are working with

taverners encouraging them to adhere

to lockdown regulations as well as

started a poster campaign before

lockdown outlining safe behaviour eg.

No sharing of bottles, cigarettes etc.

Tobacco Sale not being allowed as

considered to be non-essential

good.

Tobacco industry has lobbied government on

this. Minister of Tourism has denied request

to sell Tobacco.

Sale of tobacco and tobacco products

prohibited.

Western Cape/Garden Route Selling

Tobacco

Causing confusion in industry. Minister Cele announced that

cigarettes are not going to be sold

anywhere, including Western Cape

because the lockdown regulations are

national and apply to all provinces and

municipalities.

QSR Not categorised as essential service

Letter sent to the Department of Trade and

Industry and the Department of Tourism on

6th April indicating that fast food outlets are

ready to provide safe food service options

that minimise the spread of COVID-19. This

included an indication of the impact of the

lockdown on the number of people

employed by the sector, as well as the impact

Allowed ONLY for Delivery. Submission

through BUSA for Drive-Thru service to

be opened has been submitted.


on chicken, beef, potatoes and vegetable

supply chains.

With the extension of the lockdown, the

government had not chosen to allow these

businesses to operate. We are expecting

another announcement this week in relation

to the lockdown and any further easing of the

regulations related to this.

Transport Taxi challenges Companies that arrange private

transportation for their employees may

operate that transport outside of the

prescribed public transport hours.

The wearing of masks by commuters in taxis

if 100% capacity has been rescinded.

Regulation now is only 70% capacity.

Ongoing. Transportation regulations

have been amended to allow

companies to transport employees (if

full load transported, masks shall be

provided and worn, otherwise follow

number allowed per size of transport as

provided in the regulations).

Companies are urged to provide

transportation if shifts fall outside the

allowed times (Use annexure C (NOW

FORM 2) and CIPC permit for law

enforcement identification).

Amendment of 02 April 2020 has

reverted to 70% loading capacity

allowed. Minister of Transport also

issued a statement to reiterate this.

However, it is not clear if the

requirement to use prescribed masks is

being repealed as transport regulations

not yet amended (COGTA regulations


amended 02 April 2020, which state -all

directions in respect of hygiene

conditions and the limitation of

exposure of persons to covid-19 are

adhered to-see 11 (C) a)-further refers

to transport Minister to issue further

directions.

Permits for deliveries Permit to deliver essential goods

and services

There is been improvement, however, time

delay is the problem due to law enforcement

stops.

Members advised to update delivery and

employee permits to the new lockdown

period as pronounced by the President.

Members to use the CIPC certificate and/OR

follow Annexure C format for their essential

employees permits (must be signed by the

CEO or highest level and stamped).

Clarity is still sought as to whether non-

essential goods can be moved for

safety reasons as well as to ensure

reduced congestion at ports.

Submissions through BUSA/BSA on

allowing non- essential goods from

ports to destination

Public transport

operations

Taxi operations There was improvement on 01/04/2020.

There has been a challenge around taxis

because the initial regulations said the taxis

must be half full, and now that has been

relaxed to 70% full of people wearing masks.

Transport requirement for N95 mask

and loading capacity not yet amended.

Raised with the Task Force especially

on N95 masks usage following DoH

recommendation to use cloth masks.

Regulation R.480 of 29/04/2020 –

Wearing of cloth masks or homemade


covering mandatory for all persons in

public or using public transport

No relief fund for taxis and public

transport

The Taxi Relief Fund is being launched on

Tuesday and requires private sector to

contribute. More information will be available

by tomorrow.

Taxi fares are currently being increased

and impacts essential services workers.

Taxi associations are not allowing

privately arranged worker transport to

access townships in KZN.

Awaiting to see the details from

department of transport after the

President address on relief reforms.

Timber goods Law enforcement Message is not consistent and not allowing

structural timber, pallets etc. to be delivered.

Timber-related issues resolved. Timber-

related issues resolved. The supply of

timber products such as Trussell is

allowed for building, as housing for

homeless people needs to be built.

Cross Border Trading Cross border trading is being blocked;

however, progress is made and now have

direct contact with SAPS.

A working group dealing with these

issues being formed and issues to be

red flagged. Clarity needed as to

whether packaging and raw materials

for non-essential goods can still be

exported e.g. Bottles for beer filling as

well as raw material for brewing.

Business shutdowns Timber grower in Empangeni was shut

down by dept of Department of Labour

for staff not wearing masks and gloves.


Cross border

challenges

Blocked chemicals Certain chemicals are blocked. Need to lobby

for all chemicals across the board to be

exempted.

Chemicals for use in essential goods

must be released. Companies to submit

motivations to SARS for urgent release.

Competition

Commission

Price gouging Meeting was held with Competition

Commission on 01 April 2020 to address

concerns. All major retail & brand CEO’s

dialled in. Deputy commissioner encouraged

transparency in pricing and for open

communication going forward as well as

stricter enforcement with franchise stores.

Minister Patel announced that evidence

has been collected and that he

anticipates decisions will be made

quickly against companies and

individual profiteering. Queries still

being received by stores which we are

verifying authenticity of. Follow up

made with DTI regarding formal

exemption by industry only received an

email advising exemption is granted

and no formal gazette.

Consideration for a close

collaboration with ITC.

Number of structures are being put in place

to manage the collaboration.

COVID-19 pandemic needs to be managed,

to action a collaboration between two

industries (strictly for COVID-19 related

circumstances only).

Waiting for feedback.

CIPC Organizations not getting 48hrs

turnaround times from CIPC when

escalated.

System issue that they are looking into. Ongoing. Annexure C signed and

stamped by Top Management will

suffice.

CIPC certificate issued on 16 April is still

valid for use in level 4. However, should


there be changes, the certificate is

editable on the CIPC platform.

Safety Shortage of PPE There will be inspections and facilities will be

closed if not adhering to wearing gloves and

masks.

Ongoing. See Masks and Gloves above

Plans in place to assist Medical

Essential workers with PPE-National

level.

Input to the PPE Directive draft has

been made. Awaiting draft to be issued

on 23 April 2020 to determine if

proposals were accepted. Comments

due 23 April 2020. Plan to publish the

PPE Directive on 24 April 2020.

Labour Published visit CGCSA covid-19

page

The PPE Directive has been finalised

and published.

Masks and gloves PEE SA has only 8 days of

supply left and will take 30 days to get to SA

from China.

Ongoing. Transnet has also raised

issues of lack of PPE’s and if relaxation

happens, they may not be able to

capacitate their workforce if they can’t

do testing and provide PPE for staff.

See Masks and Gloves above.

Plans in place to assist Medial Essential

workers with PPE-National level

Risk assessments for regulatory

adherence

Need to develop an easy guide for employers

to use even after lockdown.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act

requires employers to ordinarily conduct risk

Department of Labour is using the

occupational health and safety

regulations on health and safety for

hazardous and biological agents’, where


assessments and put in place measures for

safety.

employers are required to provide

masks and gloves for employees.

Therefore, we recommend that essential

businesses that are operating conduct

risk assessments to mitigate the current

COVID-19 related risks. This will assist

should Department of Labour’s

inspectors require the employees to

wear gloves and masks to present them

with the risk assessment results.

This will also be important on the

recovery post lockdown.

Employers must note that Department

of Employment and Labour inspectors

will be in full force post lockdown. Thus

it’s important to ensure compliance to

regulations.

Forecourts are told not to use mask

and gloves.

Need to conduct risk assessment is critical to

show interventions that employers have

undertaken.

Ongoing. See Masks and Gloves Above.

Updated mask requirements Recommended to wear cloths masks.

Screening when entering the workplace.

Cloth masks are recommended to be

worn by all South Africans. A workplace

guideline is being drafted at NEDLAC

and will include guidelines on masks.


Employers need to investigate

solutions to conduct screening in the

workplace.

See Masks and Gloves Above.

Rental arrangements:

Malls

Shopping Centre rent National retailers seeking deferral of

mortgage bonds for relief from rent

payments during lockdown. Regulations

currently exempt mall owners and various

sectors from the comp. comm law which

allows them to sit and discuss rent issues etc

Ongoing.

Non-payment of rent Escalated to government from the perspective

of tax breaks and repo rate cuts.

Struggling shopping centres need to access

the Disaster Relief Fund, however, there is a

possibility that they will not benefit as the

Disaster Fund is set up for SMMEs.

Landlords not receiving rental from

tenants, managing agents are also

affected, this will impact employees –

this can’t be resolved by government.

Shopping centre association needs to

consider a consolidated and united

approach and consider the repo rate

reduction and give the relief to the

tenants.

Tenants and Landlords are able to

engage in negotiations to discuss

alternative rental arrangements

Rental by retailers Number of retailers sending letters to indicate

intension not to pay rent has increased.

Ongoing.


Rates and taxes concessions have been

submitted to COGTA.

Regulating the trading hours by industry

submitted to COGTA for the shopping centers

and Malls – 7am – 8pm (Monday to Friday)

8am-4pm (Saturday and Sunday)

Tenants and Landlords are able to

engage in negotiations to discuss

alternative rental arrangements

Essential goods and

services

Non-Alcoholic beverages being

removed from shelves.

Retailers selling non-alcoholic beers e.g.

Bavaria, etc. being asked to stop selling.

To discuss with all retailers.

Interpretation of, and clarity

regarding, regulations and

enforcement thereof.

Seeking legal advice regarding regulatory

clarity on the following: what is classified as

food and what isn’t; chocolates and

confectionery; biscuits, cakes and desserts for

consumption at home; pre-cooked and

packed home meals for delivery; animal feed

(farm animals/pets/sports animals); hygiene

products (including disinfectants, air

fresheners, pesticides); personal care

products; newspapers and magazines; raw

materials (all raw material for food or only

those for essential foods?), etc.

Waiting for legal opinion on this.

Ongoing.

Clarity on essential foods There is a still a need to provide clarity to SAPS

of the essential food items and clarity that it’s

not only non-luxury items of food that are

essential foods, but also foods prepared in

stores.

Guide document on regulations are

being drafted to be utilised by SAPS.

These will provide details on the food

items included.

Ongoing.

Submissions through BUSA/BSA on

allowing retailers to sell all goods in the


stock, excluding the alcoholic and

tobacco products.

Lockdown extension Need to clarify if any sectors will be allowed to

operation after the extension of the lockdown.

Number of submissions have been

made, thus a need to clarify if traction is

made on all submissions for essential

services and goods. Retail industry

needs clarity on the sale of goods such

as building material, baby clothes

(recently allowed to be sold), pesticides

and chemicals sold in retail (e.g. Doom).

All essential goods form part of the

guide document under development as

above.

See R.480 list of essential and opened

markets for manufacturing and trade

(pesticides included).

Fragrances and make up products can

now be sold.

Products such as pesticides, Doom,

Mosquito repellents, Air freshener can

be sold by retailers.

Employment &

Labour

Essential services labour and

employees demanding extra pay &

Danger allowance

How do companies manage this, is it a

requirement?

Ongoing.

Foreign labour Automatic extensions have been granted. Closed.


Industrial action. Staff in the poultry

industry don’t want to work.

Ongoing

TERS, UIF and Disaster Management

Fund

There has been finalization on how the TERS,

UIF and disaster management fund agreement

on how it will be paid out.

FAQs have been prepared and will be

published today.

Initially businesses were required to

declare financial distress, however

through lobbying that clause has been

removed to be able to claim for TERS for

employees.

The document on employee and

transport in the workplace has been

circulated and would like response by

today.

Strike Action: Legal opinion states that

essential businesses operating during

lockdown are allowed to strike, thus

need to refer the matter to the CCMA

for a dispute declaration and resolution

process.

Businesses need to improve the

relationship with union representatives

and start engaging on the workplace

process to return to work.

It has been confirmed that TERS benefits

are payable in terms of the

Unemployment Insurance Act and thus

exempt from income tax. In instances


where the employer receives the TERS

benefits from the UIF, it does not

constitute remuneration paid by the

employer. The employer is merely

processing the payment on behalf of the

UIF.

The payment of TERS benefits should be

communicated separately to employees

and should not be included in their

payslips.

The payment process has been running

well and as at 20 April, UIF had paid

about R1bn worth of benefits.

The Draft Disaster Management Tax

Relief submission to BUSA was made on

17 April 2020. Part of the submission

included the following:

• The expanding of ETI benefit to

employees employed prior to 1

October 2013.

Masks and UIF Payments still a

challenge in the workplace

Concerns about UIF payments

Section 16 of Occupational Health and Safety

Act requires that the CEO take the ultimate

Awaiting UIF gazette

The PPE Directive allows the use of cloth

masks by workers. Employers to issue at

least 2 cloth masks to their employees.


responsibility. If no one in the organization

undertakes, it falls in the ambit of the CEO.

The PPE Directive has been finalised and

published.

Return to work by non-essential

sectors

Infection rate will determine the timing

of the lockdown.

Thus, return to work by non-essential

sectors will be a phased in approach to

keep the workers safe.

Industry needs to put in measures in

preparation for return to work.

Cigarettes and alcohol will be a

challenge as there are health concerns –

govt is encouraged by the reduction on

crime - however the challenge with

tobacco – will lead to un intendent

consequences in price gauging and

illicit channels as informal sector can

sell.

Need to start a formal process for post

21 days – economic activity, movement

is needed but not gatherings.

Alcohol industry need to start thinking

about up and down streams

opportunities, education on abuse of

alcohol and support the govt to contain

alcohol abuse.


UIF and TERS payment is still a

challenge, how it will be paid – different

views from ministry and industry.

UIF and TERS payment are proceeding.

Submission to PPE Directive done

awaiting revised draft on 23 April 2020.

The PPE Directive has been finalised and

published.

Law enforcement Employees and taxis utilised by

critical staff being turned away by

law enforcement with differing

permit requirements.

Clarity requested from Minister Patel,

Minister Cele as to the documents needed.

Currently Annexure C, CIPC certificate used

by most companies as identification.

Ongoing. Transport regulations

amendment has included use of

company transport provided conditions

of the regulations are complied with.

Transportation regulations have been

amended to allow companies to

transport

Companies are urged to provide

transportation if shifts fall outside the

allowed times (Use annexure C (Now

Form 2) and CIPC permit for law

enforcement identification).

Spike in criminal activities

Spike in the theft of cigarettes and liquor.

Retailer advised to remove these from

displays.

To monitor


Safety concerns City Deep is not considered safe at this point.

Meeting will be held on 08 April to

investigate movement by train to City Deep

depot.

To consider non-essential services as

well.

Adherence to restrictions Level 4 Regulations, which came into

effect on 1 May 2020, provide a more

detailed framework for businesses to

know whether, and to what extent, they

are permitted to operate if they decide

to return to work. It is vital for

employers to pay attention to health

protocols and hygiene restrictions.

Social Grants Staggering

Crowd control and social distancing

at retail stores

Shortage of cash

Engaging with SASSA and relevant

government stakeholders

Working daily with SAPS NATJOC / Core

Command Centre and the military to resolve

Engaging with retailers to request that they

have sufficient cash available

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

Donations SA Gov requested business to

donate non-perishable foods for

people in need / feedback on a

voucher system / Solidarity fund

donations.

RP: Linda Drummond

Member communications sent out on 31

March with information on specific items

required for donation / invitation to join a call

regarding a voucher system / Solidarity fund

donations. Members requested to indicate if

they will be making any donations.

Ongoing

Donation of non-perishable food

items on list provided by Department

of Social Development: Companies that

are wanting to donate any of these

items to contact Linda Drummond at

[email protected] to get details of

Provincial Nutrition and Development

Centres.

Electronic voucher system

mailto:[email protected]


Voucher system piloted successfully in

the Western Cape and can be

implemented in formal retail. Work is

still underway to allow for

implementation at spaza stores.

Companies wanting to find out more

about this to contact Linda Drummond.

Solidarity Fund

The Solidarity Fund are providing food

parcels on a once off basis but are

focused on supporting the health-

related efforts needed to address the

pandemic.

CGCSA Coordinated Response to

Food Insecurity

A committee is being formed to

identify sustainable business-driven

solutions to address food insecurity.

Terms of reference being signed off at

present. Solutions to be shared with

members for feedback and

participation.

Informal traders Informal traders and sole

proprietors are part of the essential

service– the closure was meant for

Sunday market traders

Clarity to the law enforcement agencies will

be provided.

Completed. Informal traders, groceries,

wholesale produce markets, spaza

shops allowed to trade ONLY Informal

traders to get written permission from

a municipal authority. Informal traders

to also submit their certificate of

acceptability as per R. 638 and old

permit granted by municipality and


contact/visit their local municipality

offices (normally the Economic

Development Office).

Fresh produce market and provision

of food

Trading started today not perfect but better. Added to amendment R.446 02 April

2020.

Spaza shops All spaza shops should be open including

informal food traders but must get a permit.

Added to amendment R.446 02 April

2020.

Draft amendment regulation is being

submitted to command council and will

correct the confusion of exclusion of informal

traders and sole proprietor. Thereafter work

with law enforcement to communicate.

Added to amendment R.446 02 April

2020.

Registration of informal traders Gauteng will test a tech solution for informal

traders to be registered. This is not a CIPC

certificate, but an interim solution. If pilot is

successful in GP, it will be rolled out to other

provinces.

Informal traders to also submit their

certificate of acceptability as per R. 638

(food traders) and old permit granted

by municipality and contact/visit their

local municipality offices (normally the

Economic Development Office).

Ports Congestion at ports impact supply

chains

Durban port is currently operating at 50%

with high absenteeism. Container terminal is

operating at 30%. Matter is being escalated.

Members urged to submit motivation

and indicate if perishable product and

urgent to essential goods and services

for processing by SARS.

Port capacity – has improved

Awaiting feedback on movement of

cargo from ports to storage facilities, to

ensure that trucks are not stopped by


law enforcement and fined for

transporting non-essential goods.

Challenge – clarity on sanitization of

containers and handling thereof at the

port is needed

Signed SOP on cargo coming into SA for

all types of cargo. Signed SOP is

available on the ITAC website.

Congestion at Durban port and City

Deep

Members called upon to come up with plan

to submit on how to minimise movement at

port

The regulations been amended to

enable cargo to be offloaded from

ships but applies to essential goods

and allow ports are not clogged up

Working group set up to deal with any

matters.

30% operation will result in the loss of food,

need to be escalated. KFC is biggest buyer of

chicken in SA.

Notice issued by Maritime Authority SA, will

resolve the problem if can be implemented

by Minister of Public Enterprises and

Transnet.

Shipping lines are making their own rules –

not moving any goods except for essential

goods – there is a disconnect.

Members urged to submit motivation

and indicate if perishable product and

urgent to essential goods and services

for processing by SARS.


Possible regulation coming out to state that

all cargo will be released.

Ships in the water are not allowed to dock,

they will bypass SA – essential goods like

medicine will be given to other countries and

challenge will be getting those back. Need to

escalate and resolve.

Critical Import & Export Control

Permits

ITAC import or export permit applications for

disaster relief as a result of COVID-19 must

be submitted electronically. In the case of all

other permit applications, the industry is

advised to submit applications after the

lockdown.

SOP is available on the ITAC website.

Retailers and Brand owners need

clarity on non-essential goods.

Will the law enforcement stop non-essential

goods being brought into the country?

Number of staff are undermining conditions of

COVID 19.

Masks and other products are stuck in ORT

and not released due to ITAC constraints

unable to release certificates.

See R.480 goods allowed for export and

local manufacture.


Construction Interpretation of regulations Plumbers, electrical and maintenance, require

clarity as they provide essential service –

should they register on CIPC?

Need clarity on whether such workers still

need to apply for the CIPC certificate if they

are doing government work.

Confirmed that registration through

the CIPC is required to enable

operations during lockdown for

maintenance work.

Industry concerns around exclusion Industry feels are not considered essential

Ministry submission is required.

Supply chain stability

and visibility

Supply chain efficiencies Surveys sent to retailers and manufacturers to

understand where there are issues in meeting

consumer demand for essential items

Poor response to survey. Survey results

to be collated and evaluated.

TBC

HMR (Stock management) Supply management by limiting quantities

sold.

Ongoing.

Regulations prohibiting sale of HMR

has been published. However, as

industry we are concerned about the

impact on the supply chain as poultry

and vegetable (potatoes) industry

supply QSR and HMR bulk of their

produce.

The Department of Trade and

Industry and DoH made several data

requests to build a visibility

dashboard. This requires

dashboards for retail-level spending

tracking, supply and demand

The aim is to track consumer spending and

seek appropriate ways of remedying the

situation in cases where commodity

shortages are arising. We will use the GS1

Product Identifier and Data pool as a basis for

aggregation.

In progress. There is consensus to use

the Standards and GS1 unique

identifiers to bring the data set

together.


patterns, for short-term and future

projections for categories like Food,

PPE and Sanitizer etc.

The various sectors have indicated

they are struggling to find a unique

identifier that can bring all sectors

together.

We will tap into EDI hubs e.g. Vodacom and

GS1 Product Data Pool.

Key retailers, manufacturers and healthcare

will share data on a more frequent basis such

as, daily, two or three-day intervals or weekly

which will inform prompt decisions.

Explore using the same infrastructure,

to see if we can combine food, medical

and pharmaceutical on the same set of

dashboards.

First prize would however be to use

real-time data to demonstrate the

value of full value chain visibility.

Need to clarify at what level retailers

are able to report on stock-outs or

what is happening with prices.

SADC trading Releasing of goods from warehouses is critical. Will be part of the SAPS SOPs that are

being drafted.

Technology Two international links are down Traffic is being rerouted to Seacom and SAT4

Mthunzini link Currently being linked to GP and labourers

have been requested to stop working as they

worked across provinces. If this network is

unable to be set up, it will impact on

networks in SA.

Been resolved. Workers are allowed to

operate.

Cyber crime Education needed to address the increase in

cybercrime.

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Call centre operations

and international

service

Names of 24 affected company submitted

and awaiting permission to operate.

Ongoing.

Durban call centres still closed. Require the

directive from govt to allow operation as

organization will not operation in call centre

environment if this directive is not issued as

they fear law enforcement.

Ongoing.

All call centres are opening today.

Need clarity on how a non-essential

organisation can install software in its

operations to enable working from

home capability if organization is not

an essential service? What process to

follow?

Recommendation is to have the IT

service provider to conduct that

function, if internal, use essential

maintenance service Section 32 and 33

on annexure B of the regulation, this

includes payroll services.

The CEO must provide the permit.


Synergy between

government

departments

Mixed messages and

communications issues

Individual misinterpretation of the

regulations by different departments

Liaising with various government

departments and enforcement agencies to

get clarity, consistency and alignment

Encouraging the different departments to

engage more and synergise

Can District Councils make own laws differing

from National regulations and Acts?

Ongoing.

Agriculture Unlawful inspections Engagements with Minister Didiza currently

underway.

Need to use the regulations and

interdict where required. Police and

inspectors come unannounced.

Challenges Informal sector is not operating

optimally, registration at municipality

level is not efficient.

Spiking of global food prices such as

rice and more. Engaging with

Competition Commission on global

price movement.

Challenges: financing, payment of

suppliers, food availability, with the

extension of lockdown these challenges

continue.

The Director General: DAFF issued letter

on 22 April 2020 opening the auction of

livestock including cattle, wool, mohair,

skins and hides during COVID-19

lockdown.


Real estate Security and cleaning services Security and cleaning services have been

increased.

Permits have been issued.

There are improved service operations with

the malls.

Maintenance issues require attention during

this period.

Public transportation, essential service

sector doesn’t have a representation in

the intervention forum.

SANTACO was part of the meeting with

Minister of Transport about mixed

messages. It’s a high-risk area and

needs to be managed properly.

Glass manufacturers Non-essential service The production of glass is key to store

beer that is already manufactured, if not

will lead to production loss.

Clause 24 of the regulation is key as it

relates to the production of essential

services. This could apply to raw

materials that are used prior to

production, such as logistics, and this

clause could be a safety net.

Health Testing and treatment Further testing is required and prepare for

influx to hospitals

Tertiary hospitals are short on PPE – public and

private hospital are inundated with patients

Support govt in containment phase

through hygiene practices messaging

and social distancing.

Sourcing of test kits and extend testing

– private labs are looking at reduced

cost.


Vaccine and treatment – we are 18 months

away from vaccine, still to determine immunity

after treatment.

Inconclusive information on the drugs that are

currently being used if they are working

Track and trace and manage the

containment – 10k field workers in

communities and townships to conduct

screening and refer to private testing

facilities if suspect a case. Industry has

sponsored the cell phone, branded

uniform – t-shirts and caps.

Facilities filling up – lack of supplies for

PPE, stock level in the country critical

Trying to source the ventilators, PPE

from non-traditional sources.

Public sector is experiencing the

shortage; thus the sourcing is trying to

supplement supply.

100 million masks have been circulated

to health workers. 400 million are

sourced from Israel.

Private facilities have agreed that they

will not turn back COVID-19 public

patients, however a tariff needs to be

agreed with government.

Discussions on medical aid to release

their reserves of 25%.


COIDA has about R25bn outstanding

payment on approved claims to doctors,

needs to release those payments.

General Industry impact survey Genesis Survey completed. Awaiting final

analysis.

Genesis will circulate the survey results,

however, here are some insights and

possible recommendations thus far:

Nature of current challenges are starting

to be understood – social and economic

impact is being outlined with different

scenarios

Need to outline how to get some part of

the economy up and running

Risks

Transmission of virus

Employment risks

Economic risks

Principles

Sectors that feed into essential sectors,

how to get them operational

Add to essential goods and services


The presentation on the results was held

on 22 April 2020 with the working

group.

Restarting industries of high-risk value

products and exports and non-essential

perishables goods like flowers

Increase health and safety matters

What must be kept under lockdown –

schools and universities will possibly be

last to operate

Irretrievable damage is high such as

payroll, perishable goods

Look at remote working, how to restart

the supply chains

Education – there is some work taking

place in that area with possible

solutions, however still early stages.

cgcsa covid-19 interventions 07 may 2020 category …

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