Close Menu

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    Over 200 learners fall ill in food poisoning scare at Bloemfontein school

    March 10, 2025

    Exco moves to fast-track Dark City, G-Hostel housing projects

    March 6, 2025

    10 killed, 27 injured in horrific N6 highway bus crash

    March 5, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    The Free Stater
    • Home
    • News
    • Local
    • National
    • Property
    • Business
    • Sport
    • Opinion
    • Economy
    • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
      • Audio
    The Free Stater
    Home»National»SA ends national state of disaster
    National

    SA ends national state of disaster

    The Free StaterBy The Free StaterApril 5, 2022No Comments5 Mins Read
    Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    UNCERTAIN FUTURE . . . President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing a possible impeachment threat over the ‘farmgate’ scandal
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Copy Link

    Staff Reporter

    South Africa has ended the national state of disaster put in place over two years ago to try and contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement on Monday evening, stating that while a host of control measures have now been removed, others such as the wearing of masks indoors and the number of people permitted at certain gatherings will remain in place.

    “Since the requirements for a national state of disaster to be declared in terms of the Disaster Management Act are no longer met, cabinet has decided to terminate the national state of disaster with effect from midnight tonight,” he said.

    According to the president, the Disaster Management Act provides that certain elements of the regulations may remain in place for a limited period for “post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation”.

    As a result, certain transitional provisions will remain in place for a period of 30 days after the termination of the national state of disaster to ensure essential public health precautions and other necessary services are not interrupted while the new regulations in terms of the National Health Act come into effect.

    “What this means is that all regulations and directions made in terms of the Disaster Management Act following the declaration of the national state of disaster in response to COVID-19 are repealed with effect from midnight tonight, with the exception of a few transitional measures,” Ramaphosa explained.
    Among the measures to remain in place for a month, people will still be required to wear a face mask in an indoor public space to prevent transmission in high-risk places.

    A mask is not required when outdoors.

    The existing restrictions on gatherings will also remain in place as a transitional measure.

    This means that both indoor and outdoor venues can take up to 50 percent of their capacity without any maximum limit, provided that proof of vaccination or a COVID-19 test not older than 72 hours is required for entrance to the venue.

    Where there is no provision for proof of vaccination or a COVID test, then the current upper limit of 1 000 people indoors and 2 000 people outdoors will remain.

    The president also said the existing provisions with respect to international travel will remain in place.

    This means that travellers entering South Africa will need to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours.

    If a traveller does not submit a vaccine certificate or proof of a negative COVID-19 test, they will be required to do an antigen test on arrival.

    If they test positive for COVID-19, they will need to isolate for 10 days.

    Ramaphosa said the payment of the special R350 Social Relief of Distress Grant will remain in place to allow the Department of Social Development to finalise the regulations that will allow the payment of the grant to continue.

    The measures put in place for the extension of the validity of a learner’s licence, driving licence card, licence disc, professional driving permit and registration of a motor vehicle will remain in place.

    “All other disaster regulations will fall away at midnight tonight. These include regulations on isolation of persons, on schools and access to old age homes, on public transport, on initiation practices, on cargo transportation, and on criminalisation of non-adherence to these rules,” Ramaphosa said.

    “The end of the national state of disaster also means that the coronavirus alert levels will no longer apply,” he added.

    “The few transitional measures that remain are limited in scope, and allow almost all social and economic activity to resume as normal.

    “They are essential to reduce the risk of a further COVID-19 wave and further disaster.”

    South Africa has been under a national state of disaster for a total of 750 days in response to a global health crisis that posed a grave threat to the lives and the well-being of the people.

    The declaration of the national state of disaster on 15 March 2020 empowered the government to take the measures that prevented many more people from becoming severely ill and saved countless lives.

    These measures were effective in slowing down the rate of infection, easing pressure on hospitals and providing the time needed to develop the infrastructure, resources and capacity to manage a large number of people who became ill as a result of COVID-19.

    During the third wave in July last year, the highest average daily number of COVID-related deaths recorded was 420.

    In the fourth wave, in February this year, the highest daily number of COVID-related deaths was 240.

    In the past week, this number has dropped to just 12.

    Of the 108 000 regular beds in the country, only 1 805 are currently occupied by COVID-19 patients.

    And of the 5 600 ICU beds in the country, only 175 are occupied by COVID-19 patients.

    news
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Free Stater
    • Website
    • Facebook

    Breaking news and more

    Related Posts

    Over 200 learners fall ill in food poisoning scare at Bloemfontein school

    March 10, 2025

    Exco moves to fast-track Dark City, G-Hostel housing projects

    March 6, 2025

    10 killed, 27 injured in horrific N6 highway bus crash

    March 5, 2025
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Don't Miss
    Local

    Over 200 learners fall ill in food poisoning scare at Bloemfontein school

    MORE than 200 learners from Kagisho Secondary School in Phahameng, Bloemfontein, fell ill in a…

    Exco moves to fast-track Dark City, G-Hostel housing projects

    March 6, 2025

    10 killed, 27 injured in horrific N6 highway bus crash

    March 5, 2025

    R30 billion lost fortune

    March 4, 2025
    Demo
    Top Posts

    R429-million housing claim hits brick wall

    February 5, 2025120K Views

    #SopaFS2025 | Free State poised for economic expansion, says premier

    February 22, 2025713 Views

    Jealousy: the dark side of academia in SA

    March 4, 2025218 Views

    Deregistered lawyer ordered to provide R300 000 security

    February 5, 202568 Views
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Vimeo

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from SmartMag about art & design.

    The Free Stater is an independent English-language newspaper published in and for the Free State province of South Africa that offers authoritative and trusted journalism cutting across various quality-of-life issues.

    Email Us: editor@thefreestater.co.za
    Contact: +27 76 183 2923

    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube WhatsApp
    Our Picks

    Over 200 learners fall ill in food poisoning scare at Bloemfontein school

    March 10, 2025

    Exco moves to fast-track Dark City, G-Hostel housing projects

    March 6, 2025

    10 killed, 27 injured in horrific N6 highway bus crash

    March 5, 2025
    Most Popular

    REVIEW | The 2019 Mercedes-Benz A200 sedan is a mixed bag

    December 18, 20190 Views

    Country Music Superstar to Host Enormous Concert to Benefit Hall of Fame

    January 6, 20200 Views

    Palm Springs Film Festival Awards 2024 Red Carpet: All National Celebrity Looks

    January 7, 20200 Views

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.