In a quest to reinforce the national response and following extensive consultations with the Ministers responsible for the COVID-19 interventions and the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), the Minister of COGTA, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has gazetted further amendments to the Regulations on the COVID-19 lockdown.

These amendments will enhance national integrated response measures while also clarifying the application of the regulations relating to government’s measures to reduce the risk of infection and curtail the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus while maintain the integrity of the lockdown.

Movement in so far as funerals are concerned is being clarified in the amendment regulations.

The amendments allow certain individuals to move between provinces and, metropolitan and district areas for purposes of transporting a body for burial purposes.

The amendment also limits the individuals who are permitted to travel to funerals. The regulation now outlines a process for persons who wish to travel between provinces, or between metropolitan and district areas to attend a burial or cremation to obtain a permit.

It further determines that only the following persons, who live outside a province or metropolitan and district areas, may attend a funeral:

(i) spouse or partner of the deceased;
(ii) children of the deceased, whether biological, adopted or stepchildren. 
(iii) children-in-law of the deceased;
(iv) parents of the deceased whether biological, adopted or stepparents;
(v) siblings, whether biological, adopted or stepbrother or sister of the deceased;
(vi) grandparents of the deceased; and
(vii) persons closely affiliated to the deceased. 

The current prohibition of 50 persons attending a funeral is still in operation. The holding of night vigils is still prohibited.

The permit may be obtained from:
- A Magistrate who is the head of office or
- a station commander of a police station or a person designated by him or her

In order to obtain a permit:
A Magistrate who is the head of office or a station commander of a police station or a person designated by him or her must be provided with a death certificate or a certified copy of a death certificate;

It is important to note that:
A permit holder may stay at a hotel, lodge or guest house for the duration of the funeral or cremation. The permit must be presented to the owner or manager of the hotel, lodge or guest house.

The COVID-19 regulations and amendment may be accessed here: 

The members of the Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) on COVID-19 will brief the media today on the amendments. The details of the media briefing will be announced shortly.

Issued by Mlungisi Mtshali on behalf of Department of Cooperative Governance, 2 April 2020