Media Release: An update from the Garden Route District Business, Economy and Tourism cluster

For immediate release
23 April 2020

As round two of the nationwide lockdown has kicked off the term ‘business unusual’ is starting to feel somewhat like the ‘new normal’. Despite the challenges South Africans face, everyone has to remember that we are a resilient nation in full support of a resilient province, who is geared to lead the economy to recovery soon.

With the extension of lockdown, various amendments were announced, and residents need to familiarise themselves with how these impact them.

Here are answers to several of the most frequently asked questions we received:

“Do I need to update my CIPC Essential Service Certificate, and how do I it?”

According to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, Companies registered through the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission’s (CIPC) BizPortal to perform essential services during the lockdown period will be required to have a new certificate from the BizPortal website for the extended period. This began on 17 April 2020.

Read more about it at: https://www.supportbusiness.co.za/faq/faq/do-i-need-to-update-my-cipc-essential-service-certificate-and-how-do-i-it/

“What is listed as an essential service during the extended lockdown?”

In the Regulations made in terms of Section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act published on 25 March 2020, “essential service” is defined as the services defined in section 213 of the Labour Relations Act, however there have been some recent amendments made.

Click on the link below to find the list and to read more about it: https://www.supportbusiness.co.za/faq/faq/what-is-listed-as-an-essential-service-during-the-lockdown/

As stated previously, the Garden Route District Business, Economy and Tourism Cluster works closely with key collaborative partners in the region as well as the Western Cape Government in order to assist businesses.  We therefore urge businesses to access the Covid-19 Content Centre where enquiries are address in ‘real time’.  If you are still trying to figure out what support is available for your business, do consult the COVID-19 Support Finder at: https://www.supportbusiness.co.za/covid-19-support-finder

Once again we urge residents in the region to stay calm, ascertain what’s going on around them and adhere to the lockdown regulations.