GEORGE NEWS - A local barber advertising its "essential services" with a display of a permit on the windscreen of a car drew the attention of a passer-by, who questioned the authenticity of the certificate on social media.
The legitimacy of this particular permit might be debatable, but it is important to note that all companies operating during lockdown as essential services, have been requested to re-register for the extended lockdown period.
In a media statement by the minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel, on Thursday 16 April, companies are requested to re-register through the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission's (CIPC) BizPortal website.
The certificate that is valid for the extended lockdown period, from 17 April 2020, will be sent via e-mail. Previous certificates will no longer be valid and must be disposed of.
According to Patel's statement, even if a company is in possession of a CIPC certificate, it is still subject to the applicable lockdown regulations.
"Such a certificate is a record of the company's details and a record of registration to the CIPC. It does not give a firm or individual a right to trade if that company does not fall into an essential service as defined in the lockdown regulations," it reads.
"Where the CIPC finds that certificates have been issued to companies which do not meet the definitions of an essential service, such certificate will be revoked, and the company will be referred to the South African Police Services. False declaration by the company is a criminal offence and will result in prosecution, in terms of lockdown regulations."
To confirm whether your business complies with the lockdown regulations, click here.
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