Dear Colleagues
Nasty Virus and Unresponsive Government – Covid-19 Lockdown
On Wednesday Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma gazetted the COVID-19 lockdown regulations for Alert Level 4. Click HERE to see gazette.
Despite extensive lobbying and an in depth submission which included an industry risk mitigation strategy and health and safety regulation guidelines, the real estate sector regrettably was not listed in the permitted goods, services and movement schedule under lockdown Alert Level 4.
Rebosa did a submission and supported the submission of the National Property Practitioners Council which is below. Also included for your interest is an interview which was conducted on Wednesday morning with Ms Vuyiswa Mutshekwane, Chairperson of the NPPC. Click HERE to watch the interview
While the offices of Minister Patel and Minister Dlamini-Zuma confirmed that our submission was receiving attention, we have had no further correspondence from them and can therefore only assume that the real estate sector remains under lockdown Alert Level 2 until further notice.
During Wednesday’s press briefing, the Ministers confirmed that over 70 000 submissions were received including over 800 from the business sector. We do not believe it possible for Government’s COVID-19 National Command Council to have adequately interrogated all these submissions and compiled apposite responses in two days (27 to 29 April). We will pursue this further to obtain answers or amendments to the regulations.
We assure you that we will use all avenues available to us to ensure our sector becomes operational again. We are also in the process of obtaining legal advice.
We urge all our members to lobby the National Command Council to include real estate in Part H – Financial and Business Services in Level 4 of the regulations issued in section 27 of the Disaster Management Act.
Please email your appeals including the NPPC submission documents below:-
nppc-final-submission-on-draft-risk-adjusted-economic-strategy-27042020
nppc_coronavirus-property-entry-advisory-and-declaration_form
to the following email addresses:-
It is vital that we all work together to do whatever we can to communicate the seriousness of the situation. According to the Risk Adjustment Strategy document, Real Estate scored an overall rating of 10 which apparently places the sector in the medium risk category. We therefore need to justify our request by demonstrating the low risk the industry poses for transmission of COVID-19.
It might be that we have a better chance of being heard if we all mail our concerns.
Should you have any queries in this regard, please contact us.
EAAB
The EAABs offices will remain closed and they are uncertain as to when they will re-open. We have confirmation that they are now putting the necessary logistics in place to have all EAAB employees in a position to be able to work remotely. It is anticipated that they should be able to offer full services including Call Centre operations with the next two weeks.
Deeds Office
The Deeds Office will open on Monday 4 May 2020 but with minimal staff and provided they have been supplied with all the necessary personal protective equipment. We await their Circular addressing the new processes and practical issues such as how expired rates certificates will be dealt with.
Municipalities
The rates clearance department will open on Monday 4 May 2020 with 30% of their staff compliment as per the regulations.
We will keep you posted of any further developments by publishing updates on our website – rebosa.co.za – industry news.
Best wishes
Jan
Chief Executive
