APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATION AS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE

We have tested the ability of an individual business to obtain a certificate / permit to operate as a support service / essential service during the lockdown period and were successful using a number of our members for this purpose. The businesses concerned were issued with an official CIPC document which allows them to operate during the Lockdown period. The website is www.bizportal.gov.za and you follow the following prompts.

• Services (tab on top of page)
• Covid19 (RED tab at the bottom)
• Complete the required fields and submit
• The certificate will be sent to your email

Members who are able to provide support services/essential services are therefore advised that they could register on the bizportal-site at their own discretion. Anyone who does, should carefully note that once you apply and receive permission to operate as a support service, the comprehensive regulations surrounding the Lockdown still need to be adhered to. The certificate is NOT permission to trade as usual – i.e. to provide products and services to private consumers – it is only applicable when your business is requested to provide products and / or services to another essential service with a vehicle that needs to be utilized in the delivery of the essential services listed in the published Government Gazette.

• Be aware of the obvious trading restrictions that may constrain your ability to deliver services, such as paint/parts/consumables supply and outsourced services which will simply not be available!
• You need to take your CIPC certificate and the employee permits (see below) listing employees and their ID numbers, that are required to deliver the service, to your local SAPS office and have that document certified – only then may you or your employees travel with a certified copy of the documents in their possession at all times;
• You may only use a limited (essential) number of employees – AND you must ensure they are transported to the business as per the specified guidelines in the gazette;
• You may only provide your services to an essential service vehicle, i.e. one that is required to perform designated essential services; and
• Should you act outside of these requirements or abuse the permission in any way you may be found liable and fined or even imprisoned.

Should you make application and receive permission to operate, the RMI urges you to operate strictly within the aforementioned guidelines.

REMEMBER – Covid19 infection may result in the death of an employee or a member of your family – Act responsibly.

Click here to download the permit application.