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It’s alert level 4 and the times they are a’changing.
For one thing, driving and testing centres, previously locked down with the rest of us, are reopening their doors.
That, combined with the new curfew that we’re all beholden to, has shifted a couple of the driving laws implemented during alert level 5.
For one thing, we can’t be on the roads after 8PM, unless providing an essential service or in case of an emergency.
To save you the trouble of sifting through the recently instituted Government Gazettes on the Government Printing Works website, we’ve summarised the most important points below.
Testing Centres and Licences
- All driving testing centres and vehicle testing centres must sanitise and provide a hygiene dispenser for washing of hands by clients when they enter the premises.
- No person will be permitted to enter the building without a mask.
- Physical distancing measures must be in place.
- All learner’s licences, driving licences, motor vehicle licence discs and temporary permits that expired during the lockdown shall be extended for a further grace period of 30 days.
Public Transport
- Train operators must ensure that passengers and staff are following strict health and safety protocols especially with regard to hygiene.
- Train operators must undergo screenings for COVID-19
- Personnel must be onboard trains to ensure that physical distancing is adhered to.
- No person will be allowed to use public transport without a mask and without first sanitising using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
- All public transport vehicles must be sanitised before and after picking up passengers.
- All drivers must wear masks and sanitise upon entering their vehicles.
- Buses must operate at 50% reduced capacity.
- The sanitisers used on public transport must have an alcohol content of at least 60%.
- E-hailing, meter taxis and shuttle services are to operate at 50% reduced capacity.
- A mini-bus designed to carry 15 passengers can carry no more than 10 passengers plus the driver, thereby operating at 70% of their maximum passenger capacity.
Curfew (7PM – 5AM)
- Government has allowed for a window period in which people can travel between provinces outside of the mandated curfew. Between May 1 and May 7, South Africans can travel across provincial and municipal borders without a permit.
- Interprovincial travel by public transport or personal vehicles can complete their journey during curfew times.
- Intra-provincial, metropolitan areas and districts – public transport and private vehicles have a grace period of one hour to complete travel after curfew.
- If work hours conflict with the curfew times, the manager, head of department, or person with authority must furnish workers with a stamped and signed timetable.
One last thing – takeout can be delivered between 9AM and 7PM, so don’t leave it too late.
You can find all of the gazetted regulations, dated May 4, here.
[source:governmentprintingworks]