Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has announced amendments to the regulations on the Covid-19 lockdown. Amongst these is the addition of spaza shops and informal food traders to operate with permission from a municipal authority. We’re all learning “We have learned a few things from the past week of the shutdown. One of the things that we have realised is that spaza shops were supposed to be open but for some reason, some were asked to close. So we’re just clarifying that all spaza shops should be open, now we have included informal food traders. So those who are trading in food informally, they are also allowed but they must just get a permit from their councillor or their municipality; and they’re free to trade,” says the minister. According to Dlamini-Zuma, these amendments will enhance national integrated response measures while also clarifying the application