The Department of Trade and Industry (“DTI”) released a statement on 16 April 2020, stating that companies that are registered in terms of the Companies Act, 2008 and through the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission’s (“CIPC”) BizPortal to perform essential services during the lockdown period will need to have a new certificate from the BizPortal website for the extended lockdown period. This extended lockdown period begins on 17 April 2020.
These new certificates will be emailed to the registered essential service providers by the weekend and will, according to the DTI, be available to be displayed from the start of business on Monday, 20 April 2020. The certificates issued previously will no longer be valid and must be disposed of.
