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The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has in the past month disbursed R11 billion in benefits to over two million employees affected by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

A total of 161 567 companies launched claims on behalf of their workers over the course of the last month.

The funds were disbursed  through the COVID-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS).

This method of paying out, was borne out of an agreement reached at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) which represents workers through unions, employers and the community.

In a statement on Monday, the Department of Employment and Labour said several companies and individuals have expressed appreciation at the work of the UIF during a time of financial distress.

In a testimonial letter, the Metair Group of companies expressed appreciation for the department’s efforts in paying relief benefits.

The intervention saw Metair subsidiaries pay almost 7 000 employees TERS benefits for April.

The Metair group consists of companies such as Smiths Manufacturing, Smiths Plastics, trading as Automould, Supreme Springs, ATE, HESTO Harnesses, Lumotech, First National Batteries, DENSO Sales South Africa and UNITRADE.

UIF Commissioner, Teboho Maruping, paid tribute to the Fund’s employees and their commitment to being change agents and a force for good during the pandemic.

“We have been at the receiving end of some of the vitriolic comments and I am happy that our colleagues have kept their eyes on the ball and delivered for most of the time. We have been ably led by Minister Thulas Nxesi and the Director General of the Department of Employment and Labour, Thobile Lamati,” said Maruping.

Maruping further urged companies that have not provided the UIF with all the pertinent details to do so. This is so that a further 503 629 workers can benefit from over R2-billion that the department is ready to pay as soon as the details are furnished.

“Taking into account that each breadwinner takes care of at least nine others, this means that millions of beneficiaries have been placed in an undesirable position and have been denied what, by law, should be relief benefits this time,” he said.

In addition there are 22 781 workers who have also not received their monies because their accounts have failed bank verification.

The UIF is adamant that as soon as correct details are furnished, the benefits would be paid over to recipients. Just over R100-million has been held back pending correct details.

This is over and above the UIF continuing to meet its obligations for ordinary benefits.

With 511 public servants in South Africa having tested positive for COVID-19,  departments have been urged to implement health and safety measures that ensure the containment and management of the virus in the public service.

Of the 511 total cases, two – a doctor and a nurse – have died from the virus, Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu revealed on Friday.

Expressing concern at the numbers, the Minister said the pandemic would test to the maximum the State’s capability to efficiently provide services. Mchunu made the remarks while addressing reporters on the department’s Level 4 adjusted measures response to COVID-19.

“We are hard at work doing an overall interrogation of the current capabilities of the State in a number of areas to assess, adjust and adapt our operations for the future to deliver optimal services during this pandemic,” said the Minister.

At Level 4, said Mchunu, government needs to plan for the normalisation of the public service.

“Level 4 allows for the easing of some of the restrictions put in place during the national lockdown, thereby gradually unlocking certain economic activities to resume without compromising progress made in the containment of the COVID-19,” he said.

During this transition between the levels, the focus of the public service is to continuously ensure the provision of services. These are services required for the effective functioning of the government and to ensure necessary support for all sectors that will become incrementally active during the various levels.

“For government to facilitate the unlocking of economy, there will be a need for more public servants to return to the workplace to provide services that will be required by those sectors that are part of the Level 4 phase,” he said.

These would be over and above other basic services that were part of the critical and essential services during the lockdown period.

The department has issued several circulars detailing the necessary measures which national and provincial departments must implement to ensure the containment and management of the COVID-19 in the public service.

The circulars have been developed in accordance to the relevant laws.

“These circulars provide guidance on occupational health and safety measures required within the workplace to contain the spread of the virus,” said the Minister.

Provisions, among others, require departments to set up internal COVID-19 Steering Committees for implementation plans. The committees will also address issues around the different levels of alertness, demonstrate how departments will ensure service delivery with sufficient capacity, for government services to return to normality, while ensuring necessary precautionary health and safety measures.

Directors Generals and Heads of Departments are required to ensure that employees with co-morbidities or underlying illnesses remain at home or/and work remotely until the pandemic has passed.

“If, for whatever reason, such employees are required to attend the workplace, it is incumbent on relevant DGs and HoDs to take the necessary measures to ensure their employees’ wellbeing at the workplace.”

The Minister emphasised that extra care be exercised by public servants who are performing duties during the lockdown.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the placement on parole of selected categories of sentenced offenders as a measure to combat the spread of COVID-19 in correctional facilities, which are considered high-risk areas of infection.

In a statement issued by the Presidency on Friday, the President has taken this step in response to a call by the United Nations to all countries to reduce prison populations so that social distancing and self-isolation conditions can be observed during this period.

“In South Africa, as in many other countries, correctional facilities have witnessed outbreaks of Coronavirus infections among inmates and personnel. A number of countries across the world have already heeded the call by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and have released a number of offenders in detention,” the Presidency said.

The President has taken this decision in terms of Section 82(1)(a) of the Correctional Services Act of 1998 which empowers the President to authorise at any time the placement on correctional supervision or parole of any sentenced prisoner, subject to conditions that may be recommended by the Correctional Supervision and Parole Board.

The Presidency said that the decision taken by the President to combat the spread of COVID-19 in correctional centres could relieve the country’s correctional services facilities of just under 19 000 inmates out of a population of 155 000.

Parole applies to low-risk inmates

The Presidency noted that the parole dispensation will apply to low-risk inmates who have passed their minimum detention period or will approach this period in the coming five years.

“This dispensation excludes inmates sentenced to life imprisonment or serving terms for specified other serious crimes, including sexual offences, murder and attempted murder, gender based violence and child abuse.

“Inmates that will be affected by this decision will be placed on parole instead of having their sentences remitted. They will therefore continue to serve their sentence under Community Corrections until they reach their respective sentence expiry dates,” the Presidency explained.

It also warned that offenders may be arrested and ultimately reincarcerated if they violate their release conditions.

The placement of qualifying sentenced offenders will take place over a 10-week period and will commence as soon as all Parole Board processes have been finalised, and all relevant rehabilitation and pre-release programmes are attended.

“Justice Minister, Ronald Lamola will in due course provide more details on the parole placement programme in a public briefing,” the Presidency said.

The Department of Home Affairs has been directed to urgently procure personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline officials.

This follows visits by members of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs to various Home Affairs offices across the country.

It was reported that a number of offices, especially in the Limpopo, Western Cape and Mpumalanga provinces were closed, due to the shortage of PPEs and thermometers.

PPE equipment is required to ensure that frontline officials are able to deliver services in a safe environment.

In addition, PPE forms part of the necessary and required tools used in adhering to the Department of Health and World Health Organization (WHO) protocols in fighting COVID-19.

Chairperson of the committee, Advocate Bongani Bongo emphasised the importance of procuring personal protective equipment using National Treasury Instruction No.05 of 2020/21, which sets out emergency procurement procedures in response to the National State of Disaster.

“The major preoccupation of the committee is to ensure that Home Affairs offices are open and that people get identity documents that are required to access the recently announced social assistance interventions by the state,” said Bongo on Thursday.

Despite the closure of some of the offices, the committee welcomed a report that the work of issuing death certificates, to enable families to bury their loved, ones was done.

Automated Biometric Information System

The committee has also raised concerns on the capacity challenges experienced by the department in its information and communications technology (ICT) branch.

The committee emphasised that the implementation of the Automated Biometric Information System and e-Visa regime is dependent on the department with a state-of-the-art information services branch.

The committee said the department, together with the State Information Technology Agency must heighten their work towards resolving the connectivity challenges that have impacted on service delivery.

It said that this will have a direct impact on the implementation of innovative information technology interventions.

“The implementation of the e-visa regime will be necessary when the country’s tourism sector kick-starts after the lockdown, a move which will be essential as a post-lockdown economic recovery strategy.”

“The end of the lockdown period presents an opportunity for the department to implement the e-visa system and contribute positively to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” Bongo said.

Border Management Agency

Regarding the Medium-Term Strategic Framework, the committee welcomed the commitment to the incremental establishment and operationalisation of the Border Management Agency (BMA) intended to secure the borders of the country.

“The committee, since its inception, highlighted the significance of the BMA for coordination of the management of South Africa’s ports of entry, and as a tool for the security of borders.”

Action on Lindela Repatriation Centre

Meanwhile, the committee has welcomed the swift action by Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, in dealing with the contracted security company at the Lindela Repatriation Centre, where 37 illegal foreigners have escaped.

“The committee welcomes the suspension by the private company of the security guards that are alleged to have left early from work. The committee has committed to visit Lindela Centre to listen to the concerns alleged to be raised by detainees at the centre,” said Bongo.

The Department Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has announced the reopening of deeds offices across the country as per the revised lockdown regulations.

Deeds registration, has been identified as an essential service, according to COVID-19 level 4 lockdown regulations, as of 01 May 2020.

“Level 4 regulations require that [we] put in place necessary health measures before the services can resume. These measures will ensure that clients and departmental officials are not exposed to any health risks,” the department said on Thursday.

Chief Registrar of Deeds, Carlize Knoesen, has assured members of the public that the plan of implementing these measures is at an advanced stage and will be finalised soon.

“An announcement on when the offices will reopen will be made in due course,” Knoesen said.

A pharmacy based in KwaZulu-Natal has admitted to excessive pricing of face masks in a consent agreement with the Competition Commission.

The Commission received information relating to the inflated prices of face masks by the Mandini Pharmacy in March.

“A Commission investigation found that Mandini Pharmacy ordered face masks from a supplier with the intention to resell to its customers. It did not sell face masks before March 2020 but decided to source face masks due to the sudden demand and panic-buying brought on by the state of national disaster,” the Commission said.

The Commission found that the gross profit margin in respect of the face masks for March 2020 is a contravention of section 8(1)(a) of the Act read together with Regulation 4 of the Consumer Protection Regulations.

Mandini pharmacy has admitted that it has engaged in the conduct of excessive pricing which amounts to a contravention of section 8(1)(a) of the Act.

This is the Commission’s seventh consent agreement – relating to alleged excessive pricing in the context of COVID-19 – approved as an order of the Tribunal.

The consent agreement has been confirmed as an order of the Tribunal.

In terms of its agreement with the Commission, the pharmacy agrees to:

• Immediately desist from the excessive pricing conduct;
• Reduce its net margin on facial masks with immediate effect; and
• Donate essential goods amounting to R300.00 (the total value obtained from the “overcharge” for face masks) to Mandeni child welfare situated in Mandini.

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has disbursed almost R9.5 billion through the COVID-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS).

“This is a critical infusion and further creates a safety net for workers who may ordinarily not be paid because of the lockdown as a result of the Coronavirus [COVID-19] pandemic,” said Minister of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi said on Thursday.

The payments have benefitted 1 937 558 workers.

“We serve the people of this country and it is particularly at this point that we demonstrate the nature of a caring government thus ensuring that to the extent possible, no person is left behind,” said Nxesi.

This intervention he said, should be seen as part of the government-wide effort to mitigate the worst effects of the pandemic.

Prudent investments by the UIF have enabled it to meet its obligations, despite revenue falling by over R400-million as a result of decreased contributions.

“We still appeal to employers to make the necessary applications; provide the fund with more information where we have sent queries and to pay the workers the money due to them,” Nxesi said.

A total of 619 365 workers, are still to be paid more than R2.6 billion pending the correct information being supplied to the UIF.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has convened a virtual consultative meeting with Heads of State and Government from neighbouring countries to discuss responses to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Today’s meeting, which will be chaired by President Ramaphosa, aims to afford countries the chance to share views on coordinated responses to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Issues on the agenda will include consular and immigration matters, the economic impact of COVID-19 on countries, as well as financial support and international pledges.

The meeting will also afford South Africa an opportunity to apprise the Heads of State and Government on national measures taken by the country to curb the spread of the virus.

President Ramaphosa will be supported by International Relations and Co-operation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, and Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

The countries that have confirmed participation in the virtual consultative meeting include Angola, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Citizens and businesses wishing to move premises during the COVID-19 lockdown can now do so.

This comes after Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, issued and gazetted a set of amendments of the directions to address, prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19 in South Africa.

The directives are known as the “Directions on the once-off movement of persons and the transportation of goods for purposes of relocation”.

The once off movement of premises commenced on Thursday, 7 May, and will conclude on 7 June 2020.

The directions allow individuals and business to move premises within, and across provincial, metropolitan or district boundaries during the period of Alert level 4.

The COGTA Ministry in a statement said citizens who were not able to move house previously during the lockdown, will now be allowed to move houses with goods.

“This includes new lease agreements which were entered into before or during the lockdown period; or in instances where the property transfer occurred before the lockdown period. These directions are limited to a change in place of residence, including the transport of goods to a new place of residence, within the Republic,” it said.

The Ministry said anyone who wishes to take advantage of this period to move, with their goods within, or across provincial, metropolitan or district boundaries, must obtain a permit from the station commander of a police station or a person designated by him or her.

All removals must be performed in compliance with COVID-19 regulations and the relevant directions issued by the Minister of Transport.

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) on Thursday warned against the premature re-opening of schools.

This comes after the department became aware that some independent (or private) and public schools were already preparing to reopen much earlier, and even receive learners ahead of the schedule announcement by Minister Angie Motshekga.

In some schools, teachers have already been reporting for duty and parents meetings have been held where plans were announced to have learners back in school in May.

“The premature re-opening of schools is not permitted as the department is still finalising COVID-19 school compliance protocols. Uniform standards will be applicable in schools as part of the measures put in place to protect learners and teachers, reduce infection and save the academic year,” said the DBE in a statement.

Regulations were published on 29 April 2020 in terms of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002) which listed education services under Alert Level 4 Table 1. Q. as permitted on a date and schedule yet to be announced, to direct when schools may reopen.

Until such date and the schedule are determined, all schools, including independent schools, must remain closed.

Minister Angie Motshekga has already indicated how she intends to have schools reopened and until a final decision is made, no school may proceed to open and receive learners.

Minister Motshekga announced that office based workers would gradually return to work from 4 May, School Management Teams to go back on 11 May and teachers on 18 May 2020.

The proposed date for the gradual return of learners is 1 June 2020.

“I therefore urge schools to familiarise themselves with all the regulations and directives to ensure compliance. In the meantime, schools must consult with the Department of Health and Department of Employment and Labour, in anticipation of the determination by the Minister. I am emphasising that until this determination is made schools must remain closed,” DBE Director General Hubert Mathanzima Mweli said.

Next week, Motshekga will return to the National Coronavirus Command Council to present an enhanced recovery plan based on inputs and feedback received thus far.