@MbalulaFikile Does the policy that says that no traveling after 8PM -5PM apply to long distance traveling on a bus? We are on a bus and they’ve stopped us saying we can only travel again at 5AM tata. Yhoo please give us guidance torho. Does this apply to long distance ?
— Mihlali XO (@Mimi___XO) May 3, 2020
As a result, Mbalula said the department was going to address the exceptional circumstances that occur during long-distance travel.
“This is to ensure that travellers are not affected by the roadblocks and they are not stopped on the road.
“I wish to apologise to everybody who got inconvenienced by that and we are sorting out that issue so that, by the end of today (Monday), we gazette a direction that will enable long distance, particularly public transport people to be catered for,” he said.
News24 earlier visited Park Station on Monday morning, which was a hive of activity as travellers rushed to get home during the window period.
#ParkStation : a lot of activity at Park Station where people are using the window period (1 – 7 May) to travel long distance under level 4 lockdown . (@CannyMaphanga) pic.twitter.com/uHPn1toDQF
— Team News24 (@TeamNews24) May 4, 2020
Siba Singqoto, 37, told News24 that he had been forced to return home to Port Elizabeth today, as he could no longer afford the cost of living in Johannesburg while the company he works for is under lockdown.
“I arrived in Johannesburg in January to start work, so I was still under probation when the lockdown started. Due to the company being under lockdown, I have not earned any income, so I have to return home until things get back to normal,” he explained.
As of Sunday, 3 April, the country had 6 783 cases and 131 deaths.
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