Media Release: New Regulations for Accommodation Establishments

For Immediate Release
11 May 2020

With the 1 May 2020 commencement of the Alert Level 4 restrictions which forms part of national government’s Covid-19 Risk Adjusted Strategy, changes were made to the requirements for accommodation establishments, especially where the housing of essential service workers are concerned.

According to the Disaster Management Regulations published on 29 April 2020 (“Alert Level 4 Regulations”), accommodation services are allowed as an essential or permitted service for the following purposes:

• quarantine and isolation;
• essential services workers; or
• confinement of remaining tourists.

However, if an establishment provides accommodation services to essential workers or any service other than isolation or quarantine, permission has to be obtain from the Department of Tourism. Contact persons for permission include the following people: Mr Paul Mamola (pmasemola@tourism.gov.za) or Mr Keetso Makumbe (kmakume@tourism.gov.za).

The following information needs to accompany an application for the housing of people working in essential services:

• The name of the company seeking accommodation (employer of essential services workers) with contact details;
• Names and surnames (ID copies) of the essential workers who seek accommodation;
• Expected dates of check-ins and check-outs; and
• In case of accommodation request by South African Police Services (SAPS) and South African National Defence Force (SANDF), no need for submission of information in bullet 2 (the approval from the Minister of Tourism will be suffice for SAPS).

Although the Bizportal (https://www.bizportal.gov.za/essential_service.aspx) was updated on 1 May 2020 to include accommodation services, this is NOT necessary as per the above. Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) Certificates are not compulsory, and in the case of accommodation establishments rendering services to essential workers, the relevant documentation needed serves as permission from the Department of Tourism.

In cases of housing guests attending a funeral no permission is required. The guests do however need to provide the accommodation services with a letter proving that they are attending a funeral and therefore had permission to travel, whereupon accommodation will be provided.

Here is some of the most common questions with answers regarding this topic:

Q: If I have essential and permitted services workers in my accommodation and have had for a while, do I need to apply to the National Department of Tourism (NDT) for permission to operate?

A: It would indeed be necessary to regulate your accommodation services by applying to NDT for permission to operate. This is essential as it ensures a list of all essential services workers that are in accommodation for tracking purposes if there is a need to find them. Permission can be obtained by contacting the Department of Tourism (Mr Paul Mamola – pmasemola@tourism.gov.za or Mr Keetso Makumbe – kmakume@tourism.gov.za for any further guidance.

Therefore ALL accommodation establishments on the booking portal and going forward MUST request permission from NDT to house essential services workers.  Are you able to contact all establishments on your booking portal to advise of the above new process that came into play?

Q: What happens if a person travelling for an emergency need to find accommodation?

A: The best solution would be to find an accommodation offering in the area that has permission to operate from the National Department of Tourism.  If you are unable to find such an establishment but an establishment without permission is prepared to take you in, they can apply immediately to NDT for permission.

Examples of emergencies can be a vehicle that broke down, or a family who is seeking accommodation close to a hospital where their close immediate family has been taken up and can’t drive back home, or a patient who has to travel far to get to see their specialist etc.

Q: Do I need a CPIC Certificate to operate as an accommodation offering for essential and permitted services workers?

A: You do not – What you need is permission to operate from the National Department of Tourism.  You will be required to provide proof that the workers are performing essential services, and will be required to submit all workers’ details, with their ID numbers, and occupancy dates.  Permission can be obtained by contacting the Department of Tourism (Mr Paul Mamola – pmasemola@tourism.gov.za or Mr Keetso Makumbe kmakume@tourism.gov.za).

Note this is not an essential services permit, but an approval from the Minister of Tourism, and will suffice for SAPS.

Please do not refer any accommodation establishment to the BIZ Portal for CIPC certification as it is not required. It was originally listed on the site again but I was advised that it was erroneous and that it will be removed.

These FAQ’s are also live under the travel FAQs on the website i.e. https://www.supportbusiness.co.za/faq/topics/travel-and-tourism/

Q: Do I need special permission to house guests attending a funeral?

 A: You do not. The guests are just to provide you with a letter proving that they are attending a funeral and therefore has permission to travel.

Please remember to direct any accommodation establishment wishing to list their property operational for the house of isolation cases and or, quarantine cases and or essential workers during the pandemic to the booking portal found on the following link: https://hsolutions.app/hcomm/public/covid19-booking – They’ll see the “register your establishment” link in the top right hand corner of the landing page.   This is also the same link to use to book accommodation.

All other accommodation queries can be sent to the Support Business Team via supportbusiness@wesgro.co.za. A dedicated team is available and ready to assist with tourism related matters.