South Africa will be going into a 21-day national lock-down, beginning at midnight on Thursday 26th March. To clarify, Thursday will be the final “normal” workday for South Africans, and the lock-down will begin on Thursday night. The lock-down will end at midnight on Thursday 16th April, so the first standard workday will be Friday 17th April.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has made exceptions for certain businesses to remain open during the lock-down period, including drug stores, grocery stores, and banks. While people may be panic buying at present, the government has assured everyone that this is not necessary, as normal the supply of goods will remain during the period.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) and South African National Defense Force (SANDF) will be patrolling to ensure that the lock-down rules are adhered to. This is South Africa’s opportunity to “flatten the curve” – stemming the rapid spread of COVID-19. If we work together, we can reduce the infection rate, and work towards restoring normality.
Anyone found to be breaking the rules of the lock-down could be imprisoned. Please follow the President’s instructions and remain at home.
To track the spread of the virus, click here. And for information about coronavirus from the WHO, click here. Below are some infographics explaining the SA lock-down.
Please note that Relocation Africa staff will be working from home during the lock-down period. Our landline will be down, but we will be contactable via email.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240. Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].
Mauritius is officially under lock-down for two weeks, as the number of Covid-19 cases rose to seven. Consequently, to tackle to spread of Covid-19, employees will not go to work as from tomorrow, except those who are part of the essential services like the Police Force, medical services, and fire and rescue services, amongst others.
In a televised address to the nation on 19 March, Prime Minister Jugnauth recalled that the lock-down decision has been taken after an urgent Cabinet meeting held, today, in an effort to reduce the impact of the coronavirus. With the aim to limit the spread of the virus, the Prime Minister urged the citizens to stay at home. He cautioned that economic activities and transport services will be reduced to the strict minimum. However, businesses like banks, supermarkets, shops, bakeries and pharmacies will operate normally. An additional list of businesses which will be allowed to run will be subsequently communicated to the public.
Mr Juganuth called on the population to respect the instructions given by the authorities and to practice social distancing. Solidarity and collaboration of one and all are important in these hard times, he added.
He reassured employees of the formal sector that they will neither lose their jobs or salaries. Government, he stated, will do its best to preserve jobs and ensure that foodstuffs and medicines are available for everyone.
Speaking about his meeting, with the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Arvin Boolell, the Prime Minister stated that they have both agreed that these exceptional circumstances require stringent measures like the lock-down.
The Prime Minister also thanked the health personnel for their dedication, professionalism and wonderful work.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240. Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].
https://www.relocationafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/mu.png17072560Andrew Stegmannhttps://www.relocationafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/relocationafricagroup.jpgAndrew Stegmann2020-03-24 16:04:102020-03-24 16:04:12Mauritius Under Lock-down to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a drastic new measure to combat the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus in South Africa – a three week lockdown with severe restrictions on travel and movement, supported by the South African National Defence Force.
Speaking in a briefing on Monday evening, Ramaphosa thanked the nation and people from all sectors for heeding the call to tackle the growing crisis. However, he said that more needed to be done to avoid “an enormous catastrophe” among the population.
Staying home and avoiding all social engagements and contact with other people has proven to be the most effective way to avoid spreading the virus – but we must now do everything within our means to curb infections.
Ramaphosa said that the next few days are crucial. Without decisive action the number of cases will increase. This extremely dangerous for a population like South Africa, he said.
Those countries that have acted swiftly and dramatically have been far more effective in controlling the spread of the disease. “Without decisive action, the number of people infected will rapidly increase from a few hundred to tens of thousands, and within a few weeks to hundreds of thousands,” the president said.
The president announced that new measures would now be put in place to urgently and dramatically escalate the response. The main measure is a three week lock-down (21 days) taking effect from midnight on Thursday, 26 March to midnight on Thursday 16 April.
This includes:
All South Africans will have to stay at home.
Exempted: health workers in public and private health sectors; emergency personnel; security services such as police and soldiers; those involved in the production and supply of food and basic goods; those working in essential services.
People will only be able to leave their homes to buy food, visit the pharmacy, or seek medical care; or to collect a social grant.
Shelters for homeless people will be identified, as well as quarantine areas for those who cannot self-isolate at home.
All businesses will close – only medical facilities pharmacies, laboratories, petrol stations and food stores will remain open;
Essential transport services will also continue.
Specific plans on exemptions and services that will remain open are to be be published in due course, the president said.
The categories of people who will be exempted from this lockdown are the following: health workers in the public and private sectors, emergency personnel, those in security services – such as the police, traffic officers, military medical personnel, soldiers – and other persons necessary for our response to the pandemic.
It will also include those involved in the production, distribution and supply of food and basic goods, essential banking services, the maintenance of power, water, and telecommunications services, laboratory services, and the provision of medical and hygiene products.
All shops and businesses will be closed, except for pharmacies, laboratories, banks, essential financial and payment services, including the JSE, supermarkets, petrol stations and health care providers.
Companies that are essential to the production and transportation of food, basic goods and medical supplies will remain open, the [resident said.
“The lockdown is necessary to fundamentally shift the progression of the virus,” Ramaphosa said. The SANDF has been deployed to support government in the plan, as screening and testing is ramped up to identify high-risk areas.
The announced measures come after a memorandum on the SANDF deployment and a presentation from advisors to the president were leaked to the media.
Similar measures have been taken in other countries affected by the virus, including European countries where the spread has been exponential, putting severe strain on medical facilities and supplies.
Support plan
Ramaphosa said the government will put measures in place to assist local businesses which will be negatively affected by the restrictions implemented during the lockdown.
Money will be spent to save lives and to help businesses survive, and Ramaphosa noted that the Rupert and Oppenheimer families have donated R1 billion each to the cause.
“We call on large business in particular to take care of their employees,” added Ramaphosa.
R200 million will also be made available to small and medium businesses in the tourism sector who have been hit hard by travel restrictions, said the president.
Coronavirus in South Africa
South Africa now has 402 confirmed cases of Covid-19 – an increase of 128 from Sunday’s announcement. There have been no deaths, however, Ramaphosa said the number of infections will continue to rise.
As of Monday (23 March), 360,000 cases have been confirmed around the world, with over 15,400 deaths. 100,600 people have recovered from the virus, but 244,000 remain infected – 11,600 of which are in serious or critical condition.
Italy has overtaken China in terms of deaths as a result of the virus, with alarming numbers reported each day. The USA, meanwhile, is recording the most number of new cases, with the latest jump of 7,000 new cases reported.
We implore everyone to follow President Ramaphosa’s instructions, and take the 21 day lock-down seriously. This may be our only chance to slow the spread of the virus, and protect everyone, including ourselves. Please do not panic buy/stockpile – there is enough for everyone in stores. Stay at home. Stay calm. Stay healthy. We can get through this together.
Click below to view the President’s speech.
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240. Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].
https://www.relocationafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SA.png10631913Andrew Stegmannhttps://www.relocationafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/relocationafricagroup.jpgAndrew Stegmann2020-03-24 09:17:092020-03-24 10:04:09South Africa on Lock-down from Midnight Thursday 26th
Many SA companies have resisted the idea of letting employees work from home. The coronavirus will force them to reconsider.
Could the coronavirus pandemic hasten the demise of the traditional SA office environment? The country is several years behind much of the world in adopting “remote working” — the ability to work for your company from wherever you want.
But now, as in the rest of the world, the need to limit Covid-19 infection rates is likely to force many SA companies to have employees work more from home. Once the trend takes hold, it will be difficult to turn back the clock, say experts.
For many people, remote working, sometimes called “telecommuting”, enables them to work away from their corporate cubicle either full-or part-time. As long as the work is good and on time, companies that encourage the practice don’t care where their staff are based.
It’s difficult to get an accurate estimate of the popularity of remote working. The US census says about 8-million Americans, or 5.2% of the working population, work from home full-time. Swiss research suggests that 70% of professionals around the world work from home at least one day a week, and 53% for at least half the week. Another study found that 44% of companies around the world don’t allow any remote working.
Remote working is not limited to home. Coffee shops and libraries are among venues favoured by people whose domestic circumstances don’t allow work.
Research by Jack Hammer, the US-based executive head-hunting firm with offices across Africa, says that of SA companies polled, 80% say they will offer remote working options to job candidates.
The company says the trend is in its early stages locally — a view reinforced by Sharron McPherson, a former Wall Street investment banker and attorney who is now an expert on technology disruption in emerging markets.
McPherson, a senior lecturer at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business, says that globally the number of remote workers grew 173% between 2003 and 2019. She says SA is “about four or five years behind the curve”, but predicts “a big spike” over the next two years — even without the coronavirus.
Why has SA been slow to adopt the idea? McPherson blames culture and mindset. South Africans, she says, like being together. For many employees, the idea of a solitary working environment does not appeal. “Some people are simply better suited to remote working than others,” she says. “Self-initiation and self-motivation are crucial traits.”
It’s not just employees. Many employers cling to the idea that staff must be seen at all hours of the working day. As Esther Canónico, a UK-based author, researcher and consultant on organisational behaviour, says: “As far as some companies are concerned, if they don’t see a worker working, then that worker is not working.”
Wits Business School professor Bhekinkosi Moyo thinks the problem is particularly prevalent in Africa. “This whole thing of going to the office and seeing people says to me that while the rest of the world is caught up in the fourth industrial revolution, our leaders are stuck in the second,” he says. “They measure people’s performance by how long they spend in the office. We need a strong culture shock.”
Covid-19, as devastating as it may be, could provide that shock. “If it wasn’t this virus, it would be something else,” says Moyo. “Something has to give.”
Canónico, who lectures at the London School of Economics, believes that while traditional offices will always have a place — companies need people on site and some employees like working there — the need for vast, expensive corporate HQs will diminish.
She agrees that the coronavirus will force companies that have resisted the idea to reconsider.
The pandemic isn’t the only factor forcing a rethink in SA. Gridlocked urban roads, made worse by failed traffic lights during load-shedding, cause workers to waste hours of potentially productive time sitting in traffic. Then, when they get to work, loss of Eskom power causes more frustration.
“Flexible hours and remote working may be the best solutions to helping businesses survive amid the chaos,” says McPherson.
But there’s more to it than convenience. As Canónico points out, remote employees are more loyal, happier and more productive.
Jack Hammer research shows that, in many interviews, remote working is one of the first issues to be raised by potential employees.
McPherson says: “Research from Stanford University shows that people are 13% more effective when working remotely. They take off fewer days and are less likely to take sick leave. They are also less likely to leave their company. There’s a clear bottom-line impact.”
For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240. Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: Green Chameleon [1], [2].
https://www.relocationafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/green-chameleon-s9CC2SKySJM-unsplash-scaled.jpg17072560Andrew Stegmannhttps://www.relocationafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/relocationafricagroup.jpgAndrew Stegmann2020-03-23 09:01:582020-03-23 09:01:59Coronavirus: The End of the Office?
