Government has published a number of new lockdown regulation changes as part of the country’s move to an extended level 3 lockdown.

In a national address on Monday evening (11 January), Ramaphosa said that the extended level 3 lockdown will include the continued prohibition on alcohol sales, a new curfew time, and the closure of the country’s land borders.

However, government has also introduced a number of smaller changes in the latest set of lockdown regulations which you may have missed.

Home Affairs services
Due to the rapid rise of Covid-19 infections and a number of Home Affairs staff being affected, branches across the country are suspending certain services until further notice.
The services being suspended include:

• Smart ID applications and collections. Only matric learners will be able to apply for Smart IDs under the current lockdown level;
• Applications for passports, except for people who fall in the categories permitted to travel in the amended Disaster Management Act Regulations;
• Marriage services and solemnisation and registration of marriages;
• Issuing of birth certificates. Births should be registered at the healthcare facilities where they take place.

Extensions
The latest regulations have also extended the validity of visas which expired during the lockdown period.

Foreign nationals in the country with visas that have expired and were automatically extended to 31 January 2021 due to their inability to travel during the lockdown due to Covid-19 will have their visas automatically extended to 31 March 2021.

This means that foreigners living in the country have been given a grace period of nearly a year if their visas have expired.

This is a similar situation to the country’s driving licences which were also given an extension in December.

Licences that expire during the period from 26 March 2020 up to and including 31 December 2020 will remain valid, and their validity periods are extended for a further grace period ending on 31 August 2021.

This applies to
• All learner’s licences;
• Driving licence cards;
• Temporary driving licences; and
• Professional driving permits.