Alert Level 3: Curfew must not apply to long distance public transport

Media Release by Bonginkosi Madikizela, Western Cape Minister of Transport and Public Works

Long distance transport vehicles travelling from one province to another should not be stopped for the curfew between 9pm and 4am.

Since this announcement I have been inundated with calls from frustrated long distance public transport operators who are being forced to stop along the way during the curfew period. The published regulations do not give directives to law enforcement to stop public transport vehicles during the curfew as we have seen under Alert Level 4.

Long distance travel is permitted for a person permitted to travel between provinces in terms of Alert Level 3. Permits as prescribed in the Level 3 Regulations remain a compulsory requirement.

Long distance transport services are permitted to carry a maximum of 70% of their permissible passenger carrying capacity for intra-provincial and permitted inter-provincial travel.

There is no mention of stopping long distance vehicles during the curfew period.