The Ministers of Social Development, Transport and Justice quietly gazetted new lockdown rules earlier this month, without much fanfare.

The Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu finally published the rules pertaining to the re-opening of pre-schools late last week, something which the sector has been pleading with her to do for several months.

It comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa is meeting with Premiers and other stakeholders Tuesday to discuss the possible move to Level 1 of the lockdown.

Here are the new lockdown rules as published by the relevant Ministers:

Old age homes and retirement villages:

Visits are now permitted, provided that:

• The visits are planned.
• There is a pre-visit screening call.
• Visitors are subjected to symptom checking and determination of previous known exposure to Covid-19.

Pre-schools, aftercare, and early childhood development programmes:

ECD’s may re-open subject to conditions which include:

• A child must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or, if not practically possible, by a person designated by a parent or legal guardian, every day when the child attends an early childhood development programme or a partial care facility – and they must be screened.
• In the case of a child who is twelve years or younger and accompanied by a designated person, the parents or legal guardian must provide the child with the required information for the purpose of the symptom screening.
• A parent, legal guardian or a person designated by a parent or legal guardian has a right to enquire from the early childhood development programme or partial care facility about the details of the measures that have been put in place.
• A child with a known underlying health condition that may place the child at a higher than normal risk category as defined by the Department of Health, may not return unless s a medical practitioner gives written authorisation that it is safe.

Travel:

Transport minister Fikile Mbalula has gazetted a directive which expands the circumstances when international flights are allowed.

• The transportation of fuel, cargo and goods.
• Humanitarian operations.
• The evacuation of a South African national or permanent resident to the republic.
• The repatriation of a foreign national to their country of nationality or permanent residence.
• Medical emergencies in respect of a life-threatening condition.
• The movement of staff of diplomatic and international organisations.
• The return of a South African national or permanent resident to their place of employment, study or residence, outside the republic.
• Other categories, as authorised by the Minister of Transport, but excluding international passenger air travel for leisure purposes.

Courts

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Ronald Lamola set out new directives for the smooth running of the courts.

• A list of cases which must be prioritised.
• An audiovisual link or any electronic mode may be used in any proceedings where the presiding officer deems it appropriate and, where to do so, would prevent unreasonable delay, save costs or be convenient and make it unnecessary for the person to appear in person in the courtroom.
• The number of persons allowed in a public gallery of a courtroom, courthouse or justice service point, is subject to a restriction to not more than 50% of the available floor space, with members of the public observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other.