Confusing COVID-19 lockdown laws: Dlamini-Zuma’s double-talk

South Africans coming to grips with the nationwide lockdown, emanating from the COVID-19 outbreak, have been left confused by recent amendments to the Disaster Management Act.

While initial regulations effectively suspended all ‘non-essential’ operations, recent amendments to the Act, sanctioned by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, seem to be contradictory and, at the very least, confounded. This is according to South African civil societies, politicians and the public at large.

On Thursday afternoon, Dlamini-Zuma, who has been at the forefront of the practical pre-emptive war on COVID-19, formalised changes to the gazetted Disaster Management Act. These amendments include the use of mobile technology to trace primary points of contact, details on repatriation efforts within South African borders and the operating rights of informal traders.

Amended funeral protocols bury old lockdown laws

The most extensive amendment, however, deals with the finer points of burials and funerals. Dlamini-Zuma, although tightening the prohibition of inter-provincial travel, noted that funerals — including the transportation of the deceased and accommodation of mourners — would be catered for under supervision.

The control measures in place to limit social distancing at funerals, along with the supervision of movement from one area to another, includes a permit which needs to be endorsed by a magistrate or police station commander.  

Lodges, guest houses and hotels ‘open for business’

While details relating to the ‘relaxed regulations’ and intricacies of the permit program have been met with mixed reactions, it was Dlamini-Zuma’s elaboration on accommodation for funeral attendees which drew serious criticism. Addressing the media on the gazetted amendments, Dlamini-Zuma said:

“It is clear that if you are going to a funeral, you can either stay with the relatives… but if you can’t stay with the relatives — because sometimes there is no accommodation at the relative — you are allowed to go to a guest house, or a lodge or a hotel. Of course, the rules apply; if they want to screen you, they’ll screen you.”

Concern over effectiveness of COVID-19 lockdown

Dlamini-Zuma, who was pivotal in drafting the regulations which forbade the operation of lodges, guest houses and hotels, has been condemned for undermining the lockdown laws. Despite the outcry, the government gazette has reaffirmed Dlamini-Zuma’s position, stating:

“A permit holder may stay at a hotel, lodge or guest house for the duration of the funeral or cremation. The permit must be presented to the owner or manager of the hotel, lodge or guest house.”

The decision to relax suspensions concerning accommodation follows in the wake of Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula’s controversial backtrack on taxi regulations. Concern regarding the effectiveness of the lockdown, which has been in place for exactly one week, has now come under scrutiny.