South Africa

Disaster Management Act, 2002

Ministry of Higher Education Science and Innovation: Direction to Prevent and Combat the Spread of COVID-19

Government Notice R468 of 2020

  • Published in Government Gazette no. 43237 on 17 April 2020

  • Assented to on 16 April 2020

  • Commenced on 17 April 2020

  • [Up to date as at 29 April 2020]

  1. [Amended by Ministry of Higher Education Science and Innovation: Direction to Prevent and Combat the Spread of COVID-19: Amendment (Government Notice R478 of 2020) on 29 April 2020]

I, Dr BE Nzimande, MP, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, in terms of regulation 10(8) of the Regulations issued in terms of the Disaster Management Act, No 57 of 2002, hereby issue the Directive set out in the Schedule hereto in order to provide guidance on the implementation of the provisions for essential goods and services for higher education institutions.Dr BE Nzimande, MPMinister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

1. Definition

In this Schedule, a word or expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the Regulations issued in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, Act No. 57 of 2002, published under Government Notice No. 318 in Government Gazette No. 43107 of 18 March 2020, as amended by the Regulations published in Government Gazette No. 43148, Government Notice No. 398 of 25 March 2020 ("the Regulations"), and the Higher Education Act, No 101 of 1997, as amended, bears the meaning so assigned to it, unless the context otherwise indicates.


2. Authority

2.1The COVID-19 was classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation ("WHO"), and following related developments within the Republic, the President of the Republic declared a national state of disaster relating to COVID-19 in terms of section 27(1) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002.
2.2Section 26(2)(b) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002, provides that a national disaster, once declared, must be managed in accordance with existing legislation, as well as contingency arrangements as amplified by disaster management regulations or directions issued in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002.
2.3This Directive is issued pursuant to regulation 10(8) of the Regulations to provide for measures necessary to manage COVID-19, and is valid for the duration of the declared national state of disaster.


3. Purpose

The purpose of the directions is to:(a)prescribe temporary measures to manage the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on the functionality of institutions in the higher education and training, and science, technology and innovation sectors.(b)ensure the procurement and delivery of essential goods and services for institutions in the higher education and training, and science, technology and innovation sectors.[direction 3 substituted by Government Notice R478 of 2020]


4. Directions relating to essential goods and services for institutions in the higher education and training, and science, technology and innovation sectors

The following are designated as essential goods and essential services:(a)Information and Communication Technology devices (such as desktops, laptops, modems and other devices) for education purposes.(b)Gases, liquids and chemicals used in the preservation of biological samples and maintenance of equipment and machinery.(c)Animal feed for laboratory and farm animals.(d)Printed materials to support learning and teaching, which may include textbooks, printed learning materials in other forms, and electronic devices with learning materials.(e)Stationery products needed to support teaching and learning.(f)Raw materials and technical products used in research and development and the manufacture of products supporting the response to COVID-19.(g)Production of radio-pharmaceutical products, radioactive isotopes and devices that are used in the nuclear medicine industry for diagnostic and therapeutic medical procedures.Included in this category is the production and distribution of:(i)Sr-82 used for the preparation of 82Sr/82Rb generators for myocardial perfusion PET imaging, and(ii)Ge-68/Ga-68 generator used for the PET diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumours.The transport of such goods between suppliers, institutions and students in the higher education and training, and science, technology and innovation sectors is declared an essential service.[direction 4 substituted by Government Notice R478 of 2020]


5. Commencement

This Directive comes into effect on the date of publication in the Government Gazette.

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