Minister of Communications, Telecommunications and Postal Services Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has assured South Africans that contact tracing in COVID-19 cases will not be used to spy on citizens.
“When we say we are going to use cell phone numbers, it doesn’t meant we are going take anybody’s number. Those that test and are found to be positive…it is those people that the Department of Health will seek permission from the Electronic Communications Network Service (ECNS) licences to access their geolocation,” the Minister said.
In turn, people who have been in contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 will be identified through the process of contact tracing.
“I know that people have been concerned that government wants to spy on people. This is not spying on anyone. We do respect that everyone has the right to privacy, but in a situation like this, our individual rights do not supersede the country’s rights. The most important and critical right is ensuring the safety of South Africans.
“We are on lockdown because of the virus that is spreading. It is in our interest as government as well as South Africans to ensure that we minimise the spread of the virus,” the Minister said.
By doing this, she said, government will not intercept phone calls of citizens in its process of contact tracing.
Meanwhile, the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation has established a command centre that has taken over most of the work of water boards.
“We have established a command centre where you can call to get access to water. The command centre ensures that all the water tanks that we have procured are taken to places that have been identified to be in need,” Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Lindiwe Sisulu said.
Municipalities will be responsible for identifying areas where water tanks will be placed.
These, she said, will be provided centrally by the centre.
All water tankers will be reporting on a regular basis to the command centre which is situated at the premises of Rand Water in Johannesburg.
“Should anybody experience a shortage of water, this is the place where we will be able to direct our tankers to. This is the place that will direct people who own irrigation schemes in our farming communities to direct some of their water to where there is a need for water,” said Sisulu.
Police Minister Bheki Cele said about 24 389 law enforcers made up of the South African Police Service (SAPS); the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and metro police units have been deployed to enforce the regulations.
He urged the public to observe and comply with the regulations in place,so far about 2289 people have been arrested for breaking those regulations, especially alcohol and traffic offenses,” said the Minister.
The Minister also urged provincial governments not to formulate their own regulations, saying national Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister is the sole custodian of the regulations.
“These regulations are national regulations. There are no provincial or municipal regulations, so what is done in Limpopo, is also done in the Western Cape. We hear that some provinces will relax some regulations … they shouldn’t complain because police will not implement the so-called provincial regulations, they’ll stick to the national regulations.”
Cargo ships and airfreight companies will also be able to dock and land on South African shores to deliver essential services, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel said.
“All cargo have now been allowed into the country and to be offloaded from ships. This applies to essential goods and other goods, subject to sanitising and disinfection,” said Patel at a briefing of Ministers from the COVID-19 National Command Council.
Patel said this will prevent ports from clogging up and allow essential goods to reach South Africans.
The regulations also make provision for cargo planes entering South Africa.
Patel outlined the rules for crews from such cargo planes.
“From there, they will go to a dedicated hotel near the airport, where they will be on lockdown in their rooms until they return to their planes and fly back. Air freight companies have strongly welcomed this clarification,” he said.
Additionally, internationally operated call centres are now permitted to operate, provided they observe social distancing rules.
“There are a number of them that operate in South Africa and the regulations clarify that they may provide essential services in respect of healthcare, social services, government services and financial services – subject to social distancing rules that will be determined by the Ministers of Health and Trade, Industry and Competition,” Patel said.