The Covid-19 South African Online Portal can be accessed via the link below
Covid-19 News and Resources
We trust that you will find our News and Resources page useful and practical. We will update it mainly with summaries of key decisions and information, reflecting the essence and not the detail, of what has been reported or published.
Should you require copies of detailed speeches, gazettes, documents, etc. please contact us and we will gladly forward those to you.
Please contact us if you have any questions about any aspect of the National Disaster Regulations, lockdown measures, workplace safety requirements, relief funds or related business and employee matters.
Summaries, news and views
2021-01-14 Covid-19 Workplace update Workplace practices review
2020-08-17 Alert Level 2 Economic & social activities now permitted
2020-08-05 TERS update The latest news about TERS
2020-07-30 Curfew & leisure travel Curfew shorter & leisure travel to be permitted
2020-07-28 TERS deadline TERS application deadline – Fri 31 July 2020!
2020-07-22 Extract from Amended DMA Regulations – Licences Further relief granted for renewal of licences
2020-07-22 Covid-19 TERS extension TERS benefits extended to 15 August 2020!!!
2020-05-30 Alert Level 3 All the information needed about permitted activities and what’s not permitted
2020-05-16 Amendment to Covid TERS Directive Individual employees may now apply for TERS benefits, subject to conditions
2020-05-14 President’s speech – Alert Level 3 President’s speech, alert level 3 & opening of e-commerce
2020-05-10 SASSA SRD Grant launch R350 grant applications to open on 11 May
2020-05-08 Insight on the lockdown and the economic tipping point An excellent newsletter published by Charles Merrington (CFP Professional)
2020-05-01 Updated Annexure C – Permit to Perform Services – L4 New permit needed for employees for working during L4
2020-05-01 DoL – UIF contacts for ordinary UIF queries For all ordinary unemployment, sick & maternity benefit queries
2020-04-29 Gazette of OHS workplace measures Workplace Covid OHS measures gazetted – 29 April 2020
2020-04-29 Level 4 Sector Activity Business activities permitted in Level 4 from 01 May 2020
2020-04-29 Covid19 SRD grant – R350pm – details
2020-04-28 Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant R350pm
2020-04-25 Summary – Level 4 Proposed business sectors
2020-04-25 Full list – Proposed Level 4
2020-04-24 R200bn Loan Guarantee Scheme
2020-04-23 Further Tax Relief Measures
2020-04-21 Social relief and economic support measures
2020-04-17 Updated Lockdown Regulations
2020-04-02 Updated Lockdown Regulations
2020-03-26 AMENDED DISASTER REGULATIONS
2020-03-25 Lockdown Regulations – Extracts & Insights
BUSINESS AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Covid-19 TERS Benefit
The TERS benefit is paid from the UIF and is for employees who lose income due to the lockdown. Employers must apply for this benefit on behalf of their employees.
Link to the Easy-Guide, FAQs and the Gazette
http://www.labour.gov.za/easy-guide-for-employers-on-covid19
Link to the Registration and Application page for the TERS Benefit
https://uifecc.labour.gov.za/covid19/
Link to an 11 minute video of the on-line TERS application process.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67p6iWnrkBA&t=185s
The video was produced by The Tax Faculty, an accredited non-profit tertiary and continuing professional development (CPD) provider. The Tax Faculty’s focus is solely on tax studies. They are recognised by the South African Institute of Tax Professionals (SAIT), a SARS recognised controlling body under the Tax Administration Act, 2011.
SMME Debt Relief Scheme and Business Growth Resilience Scheme
These two Schemes are managed by the Department of Small Business Development. The Debt Relief Scheme is for businesses which are negatively affected, directly or indirectly, due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The Business Growth Resilience Scheme is for businesses geared to take advantage of supply opportunities, resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic, or shortage of goods in the local market.
Debt Relief Finance Scheme – criteria
Business Growth_Resilience Facilities – criteria
The process to apply for either one of these Schemes, involves two step. Firstly, the SMME needs to Register on https://smmesa.gov.za and make a note of the Reference number after submitting. This number will be required for the second step, which is the Application, accessed at https://smmesa.gov.za/images/COVID-19-Finance-Relief-Application-BR1.pdf This is a joint Application Form for both Schemes.
KZN One Stop Shop Business Support Desk
The KZN Department of Economic Affairs, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, through Trade & Industry KZN, has established a business support portal, to assist KZN businesses to apply for Covid-19 relief funds. The following media report on 21 April, explained the support that is planned: https://phoenixsun.co.za/85544/tikzn-to-help-kzn-businesses-and-smmes-apply-for-covid-19-relief-funds/ The portal can be accessed via this link: http://www.tikzn.co.za/bsd.php
South African Future Trust (SAFT)
This is the organisation under whose umbrella the R1 billion donation by Nicky and Jonathan Oppenheimer, is being disbursed. This fund is providing interest-free loans, repayable over 5 years. In essence the Scheme pays a business’s employees R750 per week for 15 weeks. The employer is then liable for the repayment of this money (a loan), at no interest, with a repayment deadline of 31 December 2025. All the information about the criteria and application process, can be found here https://saft.africa
As at 23 April the SAFT, through the banks, had disbursed R638 million to 5 764 SMMEs, benefitting 56 700 employees.
Covid-19 Tourism Relief Fund
This Fund is managed by the National Department of Tourism, details of the criteria and application process can be found via this link: https://www.tourism.gov.za/Pages/PageNotFoundError.aspx?requestUrl=https://www.tourism.gov.za/AboutNDT/Ministry/News/Pages/COVID-19_interventions_for_the_tourism_sector.aspx
Tax Relief Proposals
Details can be found here: 2020-04-23 Further Tax Relief Measures
Sukuma Relief Fund
This fund is distributing the Rupert Family R1 billion donation. It was oversubscribed within 3 days of opening and applications have been temporarily suspended, pending vetting and finalisation of the initial applications.
Giving For Hope (focussed on SMMEs)
This is a Fund established by the Willowton Group, in conjunction with alBaraka Bank and the South African Muslim Charitable Trust. The Fund was launched with an initial amount of R100 million and it aims to raise R500 million. The media release 2020-04-07-Willowton & alBaraka bank Release-1 provides a full explanation of the Fund and the organisations involved and the Trustees. Loans are open to all SMME’s irrespective of sector, race, gender or religion. However, loans will not be advanced for passive income type businesses such as property investment or alcohol or gambling related business. Details and the application link can be accessed here: https://givingforhope.co.za
