Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002)

Notices

Directions regarding the full time return of learners to schools and measures to address, prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19 in the National Department of Basic Education, and Provincial Departments of Education, and all schools in the Republic of South Africa

1. Definitions

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In these directions, a word or expression bears the meaning assigned to it in the South African Schools Act, the Disaster Management Act or in the Regulations, and, unless the context indicates otherwise—

“COVID-19 essentials”

means the Basic Hygiene and Sanitation Package for each school, as contained in Appendix 1 to the DBE Guidelines;

“DBE Guidelines”

means the Department of Basic Education Guidelines on Maintaining Hygiene during COVID-19 Pandemic, available on the Department of Basic Education website, accessible through the following link:

https://www.education.gov.za/Portals/0/Documents/Recovery%20plan%20page/DBE%20Guidelines%20for%20schools%20on%20maintaining%20hygiene.pdf;

“DBE Standard Operating Procedures”

means the Department of Basic Education Standard Operating Procedures for the Prevention, Containment and Management of COVID-19 in Schools and School Communities, available on the Department of Basic Education website, accessible through the following link:

https://www.education.gov.za/Portals/0/Documents/Recovery%20plan%20page/Links%20for%20schools/dbe-standard-operating-procedure-for-COVID-19.pdf ;

“Department of Basic Education”

means the National Department of Basic Education;

“Department of Health Guidelines”

means the Guidelines for symptom monitoring and management of essential workers for COVID-19 related infection, issued by the Department of Health in April 2020, accessible through the following link:

https://www.saiosh.co.za/news/502409/Guidelines-for-symptom-monitoring-andmanagement-ofessential-workers-for-COVID-19-related-infection.htm;

“education support centres”

means a centre that offers curricular support or extra tuition to learners;

“hostels”

means boarding houses run by a school, whether on school property or not, for the purpose of providing accommodation to learners registered at the school;

“offices”

includes the Provincial Departments of Education, and the Department of Basic Education;

“official”

means—

(a)	an employee appointed by the school governing body, in terms of section 20(4) and (5) of the South African Schools Act;

(b)	a person defined as an officer in terms of section 1 of the South African Schools Act;

(c)	an educator as defined under the Employment of Educators Act, 1998 (Act No. 76 of 1998);

(d)	a person employed in terms of the Public Service Act, 1994 (Proclamation No.103 of 1994); or

(e)	a person employed by a school board;

“Provincial Department of Education”

means the department responsible for education in a province and includes all public schools, further education and training institutions and departmental offices in such provinces;

“Regulations”

means the Regulations made under section 3 of the Disaster Management Act, 2002, published under Government Notice No.R.480, in Government Gazette No. 43258 of 29 April 2020, as amended;

“South African Schools Act”

means the South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996); and

“third parties”

means persons who do not fall under the definition of an “official”, but may access a school or offices, including, but not limited to—

(a)	volunteer workers;

(b)	persons appointed in terms of the Expanded Public Works Programme and as community development workers;

(c)	food handlers;

(d)	chief food handlers;

(e)	parents of learners attending the school; and

(f)	persons delivering goods or providing services to the school.