Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
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The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) on Thursday overturned a much-criticised high court ruling in the early days of South Africa’s Covid-19 lockdown that struck down most of the restrictions imposed by the state as unconstitutional. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
CONSTITUTION

SCA overturns ruling that held level-four lockdown regulations were unconstitutional

The initial challenge to the restrictions was so vaguely argued that the high court appeared to have chosen to see a case where there was none, the SCA found

  • Emsie Ferreira
4 min read
Security concerns: A health worker fills out individuals’ Covid documents, a lengthy process. Now apps are being used to contact trace people a patient may have come into contact with. (Michele Spatari/AFP)
CONTACT TRACING

Tracking, tracing and transparency

Governments are processing tons of personal information to limit the spread of Covid-19. They must ensure this does not cost us our privacy

  • Robyn Pasensie
  • Isäm Bartlett
6 min read
Co-operative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has applied to appeal the judgment from the Pretoria high court last week that, in one fell swoop, struck down almost the entire lockdown regulatory regime — almost all of the level three and four regulations — as unconstitutional.
CO OPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS

Dlamini-Zuma seeks to appeal the judgment that set aside lockdown regulations

Reyno de Beer had ‘raised an attack … on unidentified regulations, on undisclosed grounds and for unknown reasons’

  • Franny Rabkin
3 min read
Unconstitutional: The judge said it was irrational of Cooperative Governance Minister Nkosozana Dlamin-Zuma to allow taxis, in which passengers were in close proximity, to operate yet hairdressers, with fewer clients, could not reopen. (Ihsaan Haffejee/Anadolu Agency)
CONSTITUTION

Judge trashes entire lockdown regime as constitutionally flawed

The high court ruling will delight gatvol South Africans but is unlikely to stand the test of time

  • Franny Rabkin
5 min read
A member of the South African Police Service (SAPS) arrest suspects after they were found in possession of alcohol, that goes against the rules of the nation wide lockdown, in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, on March 27, 2020. – South Africa came under a nationwide lockdown on March 27, 2020, joining other African countries imposing strict curfews and shutdowns in an attempt to halt the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus across the continent. (Photo by Luca Sola / AFP) (Photo by LUCA SOLA/AFP via Getty Images)
CORONA LEAD

High court strikes down ‘paternalistic’ lockdown regulations

The order of unconstitutionality has been suspended for two weeks

  • Franny Rabkin
4 min read