State of disaster set to end soon, says Dlamini-Zuma
Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma says President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to announce an end to the national state of the disaster during the first week of April.
Dlamini-Zuma briefed the media on the new Covid-19 regulations on Tuesday.
The regulations are set to be in place for 30 days as the country prepares to move away from the two-year long state of disaster.
“The president will announce the end of the national state of disaster, which will be before the 15th, depending on the comments it might be around the 5 April.”
South Africans have been living under a state of disaster for two years - one of the longest stretches anywhere in the world.
But it will soon come to an end when the new regulations come into effect.
ALSO READ: Mapisa-Nqakula declines ATM request to postpone no-confidence motion
The new regulations make provision for mask mandates to no longer be a requirement in public outdoor areas.
Social distancing has also been reduced from 1.5 m to 1 m, with the exception of schools.
Furthermore, in the new regulations the R350 social distress grant will no longer be paid as part of the state of disaster.
“The payment of R350 will continue but will be removed from the national disaster after 30 days has lapsed and will continue through other means,” added Dlamini-Zuma.
The new regulations have been gazetted for public comment.
The public has 48 hours in which to comment.
