Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula says no person is allowed to use public transport who is not wearing a face mask

Mbalula was briefing the media on COVID-19 lockdown regulations and directives related to transport on Friday.

The country has moved to level 4 lockdown, which comes with relaxed regulations compared to level 5.

Mbalula says sanitisation principles currently applicable to public transport vehicles and facilities remain.

“No person is allowed to use of public transport who is not wearing a face mask.   We call on the pubic to ensure strict adherence to this requirement by obtaining their own face masks in line with the guidance given by Minister Dlamini-Zuma.   While government may provide limited assistance in ensuring availability of masks, the onus rests on each individual to ensure that they do not leave home without a mask.”

Mbalula says drivers’ licence testing centres and vehicle testing centres will gradually re-open for essential service workers to renew their drivers’ and vehicle licenses.

“The opening of the Driver’s Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs) will be staggered once inspection and verification of the state of readiness is done on all of them. The Metro based DLTCs will be opened first from 1 June 2020. We will issue Directions to limit the daily numbers of people that can be attended to, while restricting bookings to online platforms.”

Mablula has also allowed delivery services.

“Delivery Services such as Uber Eats, Mr Delivery and any other similar service are permitted to operate between 09h00 and 19h00 only for delivery of food.”

He says Travel between provinces, metropolitan areas and districts is prohibited, with concessions made for workers who have to commute to and from work on a daily basis, attendance of funerals and transportation of mortal remains.

Mbalula says the ban on domestic and international flights remain in place, except for repatriations for those stuck outside or inside South Africa.

Faizel Patel, Radio Islam  

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)