Since our last communication (see below), the list of continuing essential services has been published by Government. This document stipulates the following over the lockdown period: “Every person is confined to his or her place of residence, unless strictly for the purpose of performing an essential service, obtaining an essential good or service, collecting a social grant, or seeking emergency, life-saving or chronic medical attention.”

All businesses are required to cease operations except those involved in the manufacture, supply or provision of essential goods and services. The construction sector does not fall into these categories and consequently all building and construction sites will be closed from the start of the lockdown at midnight Thursday 26 March until the end of the lockdown period on Friday 17 April.

In line with this, Mariswe will not be undertaking any site work in South Africa over the above period and our activities will be limited to administrative, design and other computer-based work done by our staff from their homes. As mentioned previously, communication is key to moving forward with projects and keeping administration of our business up to date. We will continue to maintain communication with all our stakeholders as required.

Our project managers who are running projects outside South Africa are required to follow our guidelines as well as those stipulated by the countries where projects are located. Open communication with clients and site staff is critical to avoid misunderstandings.

Any future Government directives affecting our business or our client relationships will be communicated as and when necessary.

Please contact me or any member of my team should you have any queries.

Yours faithfully

Ms Nonkululeko Sindane

CEO

To all Mariswe clients, suppliers, subconsultants and partners

May I first wish you, your loved ones and your staff a safe passage through the crisis that we are now experiencing in South Africa and the world.

I will not reiterate the steps we have all been asked to take by the WHO and the South African Government or the potential consequences of not adhering to social distancing or hygiene practices. However, I think it is important to share the measures Mariswe has initiated to safeguard the sustainability of our business. We aim to do everything we can to protect our staff, their families and communities, as well as our clients, business partners and, indeed, all our stakeholders.

The Board has resolved that social distancing is an effective preventative measure. All our employees will work from home until 16 April 2020, subject to the measures announced by the South African Government. This has been communicated to our staff and is already being implemented.  We support the directive given by the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, on Monday 23 March 2020 and have suspended all travel until further notice.

Effective communication is key to ensuring business continuity and we are working around the clock to ensure that our staff are fully empowered to do their jobs effectively while off-site.

No face to face meetings will be held with clients during the stipulated period. Effective and efficient face-to-face communication will be facilitated via Skype.  You will be able to contact our staff as normal via mobile phones and landlines, WhatsApp and email.

We await the list of continuing essential services to be published by Government, which will assist us to make decisions around projects on site. In the meantime, projects in progress will not be interrupted and the relevant managers at Mariswe will make specific arrangements with clients to accommodate project needs. Should this change, we will communicate accordingly.

We are confident that all our stakeholders will join us in taking the necessary measures to slow down the spread of Covid-19.

Yours faithfully

Ms Nonkululeko Sindane
CEO