Statistics Act, 1999
R 385
Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002)NoticesDirections regarding Call Centres providing essential services3. Background |
| 3.1. | Regulation 11B(1)(a)(ii) provides inter alia that for the period of lockdown every person is confined to his or her place of residence, unless strictly for the purpose of performing an essential service. |
| 3.2. | Regulation 11B(1)(b) provides that during the lockdown, all businesses and other entities must cease operations, except for any business or entity involved in the manufacturing, supply, or provision of an essential good or service, save where operations are provided from outside of the Republic of South Africa or can be provided remotely by a person from their normal place of residence. |
| 3.3. | Item B.30 of Annexure B to the Regulations provides that call centres necessary to provide health, safety, social support, government and financial services is an essential service. |
| 3.4. | The spread of the COVID-19 virus in call centres is of particular concern. |
| 3.5. | Regulations 10(1)(a) and 10(6)(b) authorise the Ministers to issue directions to address, prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19. |
| 3.6. | The COVID-19 virus is an international pandemic. |
| 3.7. | Sections 7(2)(c)(i) and (ii) of the Disaster Management Act contemplates South Africa’s co-operation in international disaster management and regional co-operation in disaster management in Southern Africa. |
| 3.8. | Regulation 11B4A(b) provides that services in relation to international markets and which provide or maintain essential services as it relates to health, social support, Government and financial services, which the Cabinet Members responsible for Health and Trade, Industry and Competition are satisfied are crucial to such services, may be provided for in Directions issued by the Cabinet members. |
