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Lockdown Level 3 and TERS Updates

Lockdown Level 3 and TERS Updates

Mark Hewitt

On the 12th of July 2020, the President announced further amendments to the Lockdown Level 3 Regulations in terms of the Disaster Management Act No. 57 of 2002. These amendments have been made in the wake of an exponential increase in positive COVID-19 test results throughout South Africa, specifically the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Gauteng.

The key statistics are detailed below:
  
  • Private tests to date: 1 196 548 (56%);
  • Public tests to date: 957 843 (44%);
  • Total tests to date: 2 154 391;
  • 20 million screenings to date;
  • Recovery rate: 48.8%;
  • Deaths to date: 4079 (1.5% fatality rate);
  • Global fatality rate: 4.4%;
  • South Africa is 120 days into Lockdown
  • 12 000 new cases being recorded every 24 hours (i.e. 500 per hour);
  • Between 40 000 to 50 000 deaths are projected before the end of 2020;
  • 28 000 hospital beds ready for COVID-19 patients; and
  • 37 000 quarantine beds in private and public facilities
The president’s speech, made on the 12th of July 2020, can be found HERE.
The amendments to the Lockdown Level 3 Regulations can be found HERE.

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The key amendments, in our view, are as follow:
  
  • Employers, shop owners and managers, public transport operators, and managers and owners of any other public building are now legally responsible to enforce the Lockdown Regulations (specifically in relation to the wearing of masks at all times);
  • Taxis can operate at 100%, while long distance taxis may operate at 70%;
  • The sale, dispensing and distribution of alcohol has been suspended;
  • A curfew has been put in place between 9pm and 4am (excluding travel for work, medical reasons etc.) effective from 9pm of Monday 13 July;
  • Commercial and private auctions are allowed;
  • Family visits and other social activities will not be allowed.
  • Parks and other public places remain open for recreational purposes subject to all persons wearing masks. The requirement to wear a mask in these areas is not applicable for persons: “who undertakes vigorous exercise in a public space…and subject to directions on what is considered to be a vigorous exercise”.
For our readers who are members of Momentum Multiply or Discovery Vitality – we hope that “vigorous exercise” will be aligned to the current heart rate goals!

Unemployment Insurance Fund (“UIF”) TERS Updates

On the 12th of July 2020, the UIF TERS Online application system launched an additional requirement, which must be met before any further payments from the UIF TERS Fund will be released to employers/employees.

The online application process now requires that the applicant must provide the ID Number or the company registration number in the event of a person, other than a natural person, of the bank account holder.
In order to update the online TERS system with the ID Number or Company registration number these steps can be followed:
   
  • Log in to the TERS system (Click HERE);
  • The system will display the Employer tab details;
  • Capture Enterprise Number or Employer ID Number; and
  • Click Proceed/Update button
Lastly, we would like to communicate that the Commissioner of the Unemployment Insurance Fund has confirmed that TERS will continue to accept and process Covid-19 TERS claims submitted for April, May and June 2020, but that TERS will not accept claims submitted for July onwards as that falls outside of the time period stipulated in the TERS directive.

Given that certain sectors of the economy have still not been allowed to operate, such as tourism, we can only hope that this decision will be reviewed.

Author: Mark Hewitt from Moore Cape Town’s specialist Tax and Advisory Department