When the COVID-19 lockdown came into force on 26 March 2020, concerns were expressed about the lawfulness of certain aspects of the government's response to the pandemic. Several fundamental human rights enshrined in the South African Constitution are affected by the regulations promulgated by the executive branch of the government, including the freedom and security of the person, freedom of expression, assembly, movement and residence, trade, occupation and profession, and the rights to education, privacy and access to information.
Human Sciences Research Council (Sat,) studied this question.