THE Department of Trade and Industry has confirmed that employers who are allowed to operate under level four of the Covid-19 lockdown must acquire a certificate from the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC).
Kouga Local Economic Development and Tourism Portfolio Councillor, Frances Baxter, said that many businesses had been approaching the municipality for certificates.
“Unfortunately, municipalities do not have the authority to issue the certificates. Only the CIPC can do so,” she said.
“The municipality can only authorise spaza shops and informal traders to operate.
She said DTI had indicated that those businesses that received certificates to operate from April 16 to 30 need not re-apply.
DTI cautioned businesses that the certificates did not automatically give them the right to trade during lockdown and that the onus remained on them to check the regulations and ensure that they may operate.
“Only businesses allowed in terms of the lockdown regulations, as amended by the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, may operate,” the Department said.
Baxter reminded businesses that they were also required to issue permits to all their employees who would be working during lockdown.
A template of the permit can be found in Annexure C (form 1) of the regulations gazetted on March 25, 2020. The permit must be signed off by the head of the institution or business. Municipalities and the police are not authorised to issue these permits for anyone other than their own employees.
Companies can register at www.bizportal.gov.za/essential_service.aspx.
