South African Government is providing essential services to the citizens and residents of close to 60 million during the fight against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The outbreak of coronavirus in the country has forced the government to close the general services sectors to avoid the spread of the disease.
Department of Trade, Industry and Competition is responsible for issuing all businesses that are allowed to trade during lockdown with approval. All other businesses not issued approval are not allowed to trade during lockdown and will be given the dates and time when they will be trading again as the government has plans in place to fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Healthcare professionals registered with the Healthcare Professions Council of South Africa, sole proprietors who provide essential goods and services like spaza-shops, and small-scale farmers will not have to register with the department through the general portal, they are required to apply through the info that was sent to them prior to the announcement of the 21 days lockdown in the first phase.
The President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the second phase of the lockdown which indicated that the lockdown was extended to end of April on which all other businesses not trading will wait for an announcement from the President on the 23rd of April 2020 where he will outline how the economy will slowly go back to normal though all measures of avoiding the spread of the COVID-19 are still the main priority.
On Tuesday the 21st April, the President announced a number of support measures from the government to help the people of South Africa through the lockdown process where R500 billion was allocated to help in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus. People of South Africa will receive the stimulus package for the net 6 months where they will earn the package on a monthly basis starting from end of May 2020.
Furthermore the economy of South Africa is said to be at its worst since the last world war. The unemployment rate is said to be growing as about 50% of South Africans will be left without jobs at the end of the coronavirus or during processes to help fight the spread of the virus. This means the government must have a plan in place to make sure they create jobs and other economic stimulation programmes to avoid the whole country to starve in the next few years.
