21-day nationwide lockdown announced for South Africa

[Deleted member 369928]

Yeah, waiting to hear on this as well... I don't think they've released any regulations yet? I'm sure they will - we should make thread that only mods can add and have the announcements by government about what we can and can't do as well as which stores are open etc

Unless its implied in the you are only allowed outside to go buy food, get medical assistance / treatment or medication / go to work when you work in the exempt field

 

[MidnightZA]

Any news on the toll roads? Will they be open? Or will they not allow cars to pass?

 

[Flanders]

April Fools' day memes could be interesting this year.

 

[Forum Reader]

This thread has got me wondering.

It is now Tuesday midday, so if someone said they will meet me at Tuesday midnight, is that in 12 hours from now or was it 12 hours ago?

 

[Temujin]

This thread has got me wondering.

It is now Tuesday midday, so if someone said they will meet me at Tuesday midnight, is that in 12 hours from now or was it 12 hours ago?

Don't care, if someone said they will meet me Tuesday midnight, I would block their number so they never bother me again

 

[Mila]

So are we allowed to go for a jog and keep up with our healthy living? Everyone seems to be assuming we are not allowed to go jogging or cycling.

You are going to be shouted at. But I guess people who doesn't get how we struggled to get where we are and how hard it is to maintain will not know. I keep saying. I can not see what harm I can do on my own jogging. I do not spit on the tar and if someone wants to lick the tar they should get run over anyway

 

[Kelerei]

554 Infected. Hopefully, this lockdown starts to decrease the numbers, but since its only happening on Midnight on Thursday, chances are we could break the thousand mark since there is a 24-48h delay in testing. It's technically 554 people 1-2 days ago. So who knows how high its gonna jump :/

Owing to the virus' incubation period, you're not likely to see a decrease in the rate of new cases for a good 12-14 days after the lockdown commences. After that, then you'll know.

 

[Brian_G]

You are going to be shouted at. But I guess people who doesn't get how we struggled to get where we are and how hard it is to maintain will not know. I keep saying. I can not see what harm I can do on my own jogging. I do not spit on the tar and if someone wants to lick the tar they should get run over anyway

There's a post of an official like doccie in one of the threads that suggests it is allowed, but nobody knows if it's fake or not.
I think it may be from another country though. Wish they'd make a website and clear all these concerns up!

 

[AchmatK]

So everyone can now use the home office deduction when submitting their tax return next year. Could amount to a nice tax refund.

 

[rietrot]

They're only testing people with symptoms.
Incubation period is 2 weeks.
Therefore, these people were infected two weeks ago...

And testing takes a week. So +1 more.

 

[Lupus]

So everyone can now use the home office deduction when submitting their tax return next year. Could amount to a nice tax refund.

How do you do that?

 

[Herr der Verboten]

No quick flyin at makro silverlakes, just drove past there and it is madness.

 

[AchmatK]

How do you do that?

On efiling. The first page of your tax return has an option for other allowable deductions.

Calculate your space needed for your home office. Pro rate with your rent/bond interest, ADSL, electricity, water, etc. Full in the amount in your tax return. You might need a letter from your employer indicating that you need to have a home office if sars decides to audit you.

Eg Home = 100m²
Home office = 10m²/10%
Monthly costs
Electricity = R2 500 = R250.00
Water = R250 = R25.00
Telephone and Internet = R1 000 = R100
Rent = R10 000 = R1 000
Total monthly home office deduction = R1 375.00

Could be more the longer this goes on.

 

[Lupus]

On efiling. The first page of your tax return has an option for other allowable deductions.

Calculate your space needed for your home office. Pro rate with your rent/bond interest, ADSL, electricity, water, etc. Full in the amount in your tax return. You might need a letter from your employer indicating that you need to have a home office if sars decides to audit you.

Eg Home = 100m²
Home office = 10m²/10%
Monthly costs
Electricity = R2 500 = R250.00
Water = R250 = R25.00
Telephone and Internet = R1 000 = R100
Rent = R10 000 = R1 000
Total monthly home office deduction = R1 375.00

Could be more the longer this goes on.

Awesome, I've already got a separate room for the office, so I'd need to work that out.

 

[Quey_Quick]

For all those asking asking about jogging or walking dogs, just stay at home. Please don't like the family who decided to run away when they tested positive or the lady who roamed around East London knowing she is positive.

Kicking this virus out is bigger than any weight you gain or fitness you lose in 21 days.

 

[Geoff.D]

Thanks for confirming that video was trash. Just looked at the title and the thumbnail and it was a big nope from me.



If you have it care to post it for us? Did you confirm if it was authentic?

It had a date and time stamp. No, I am not going to post it or a link because it is too late, that speech was obviously scrapped.
It is just a demonstration of how disfunctional the ANC is.

 

[Brian_G]

Here's some interesting articles;

Journalists should be allowed to do their jobs - Sanef on lockdown

Sanef says that it is essential that journalists be allowed to do their jobs so that ordinary citizens have a clear understanding of what is happening in their country.

www.news24.com

'' ...We note that journalists were not included in the speech – but that a 'full list of essential personnel will be published'. Our understanding is that journalists will be part of the list.

"Sanef said it believed that it was essential that journalists be allowed to do their jobs so that ordinary citizens have a clear understanding of what was happening in their country "so that they can contain and fight the disease".

With people under lockdown they need the media for information, to stay abreast of what is happening, to know what to do. Broadcasters need special permits to move from their houses to the studios. Media companies have already taken special measures to ensure only a skeleton staff is on call...''

I wonder if "our understanding" means what they expect, or what they believe was already arranged?

-------------------

Coronavirus national lockdown 101: What you need to know

President Cyril Ramaphosa has taken the unprecedented step – in democratic South Africa – in announcing a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

www.news24.com

''...Here is what you need to know.

Why a lockdown?

Sacrifices and swift action now will save lives later, Ramaphosa explained in his Monday night address to the nation.

"Without decisive action, the number of people infected will rapidly increase from a few hundred to tens of thousands, and within a few weeks, to hundreds of thousands," he said.

"While this measure will have a considerable impact on people's livelihoods, on the life of our society and on our economy, the human cost of delaying this action would be far, far greater."

Who will be affected?

The lockdown will affect everyone.

No one will be allowed to leave their homes for the 21 days unless under strictly controlled circumstances, including seeking medical care, buying food, medicine or other supplies and collecting social grants.

For homeless people, shelters which meet hygiene standards are being identified, and for those who are unable to self-isolate at home, quarantine sites will be identified.

Which businesses will remain open?

All shops will be closed for this period except for:

- Pharmacies;

- Laboratories;

- Banks;

- Essential financial and payment services, including the JSE;

- Supermarkets;

- Petrol stations; and

- Healthcare providers

"Companies that are essential to the production and transportation of food, basic goods and medical supplies will remain open," Ramaphosa said.

People necessary for the response to the virus are also exempted from the lockdown, including health workers, emergency personnel and security services (police, traffic officers, military medical personnel and soldiers).

"It will also include those involved in the production, distribution and supply of food and basic goods, essential banking services, the maintenance of power, water and telecommunications services, laboratory services and the provision of medical and hygiene products."

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has also been deployed to support the police in ensuring these measures are implemented.

Protecting our healthcare system

"This nationwide lockdown will be accompanied by a public health management programme which will significantly increase screening, testing, contact tracing and medical management," Ramaphosa said.

This means community health teams will focus on expanding screening and testing for Covid-19, especially in high-density and high-risk areas.

A "centralised patient management system" for severe cases of Covid-19 will also be implemented to ensure hospitals are not overwhelmed. Mild cases will receive "decentralised primary care".

To ensure people practise good hygiene, emergency water supplies will be provided in informal settlements and rural areas using storage tanks, water tanks, boreholes and communal standpipes.

Harsher travel restrictions

While restrictions were placed on travellers coming in and going out of the country, Ramaphosa has tightened these measures.

South African citizens arriving in the country will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine period.

International travellers arriving from high-risk counties will simply be turned back.

Those who landed after 9 March from high-risk countries will be confined to their hotels for a 14-day quarantine period.

An economic cushion

Ramaphosa reiterated the dire impact Covid-19 could have on the economy, which could cause businesses to close and many to lose their jobs.

He announced economic plans to cushion South Africa against the impact of the virus, including a solidarity fund geared at support for those whose lives have been disrupted and to combat the virus.

Anyone can start contributing to the fund at www.solidarityfund.co.za.

A safety net for people in the informal sector whose businesses will suffer because of the lockdown has also been developed, and more details will be announced.

Further, "to alleviate congestion at payment points, old-age pensions and disability grants will be available for collection from 30 and 31 March 2020, while other categories of grants will be available for collection from 1 April 2020", Ramaphosa said.

ATMs, retail point of sale devices, post offices and cash pay points will remain open.

Protection for employees

A proposal for a special dispensation for companies in distress because of Covid-19 has been put forward.

This will include wage payments for employees through the Temporary Employee Relief Scheme to help companies pay employees during this period and avoid retrenchment.

Employees who fall ill due to exposure in the workplace will be paid through the Compensation Fund, Ramaphosa said.

He said government would provide tax subsidies of up to R500 a month for the next four months to private sector employees earning less than R6 500. This would assist over four million employees, he said.


Government's inter-ministerial committee is set to hold a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon, where it's expected that several ministers in Ramaphosa's Cabinet will further explain the implications and details of the lockdown.

Many questions have been raised since the president's announcement, including whether the security forces are adequately prepared, how movement will be limited and whether or not people can still run or walk as a form of exercise during the lockdown. ''

 

[AchmatK]

Awesome, I've already got a separate room for the office, so I'd need to work that out.

If you regularly work from home and have a dedicated permanent office space at home, you could claim every year. And not just from now.

 

[Brian_G]

(Please refresh last page - post of news articles went wrong, now corrected.)

 

[Lupus]

If you regularly work from home and have a dedicated permanent office space at home, you could claim every year. And not just from now.

I do have a dedicated space, but it's generally only from Oct last year where I started once or twice a month working from home, might be more now though.