Over the weekend, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa’s risk adjusted strategy to dealing with the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic will be eased and that the country will enter lockdown level two.
In a briefing, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma shared the changes to the country’s regulations which were gazetted on Monday. These new rules mean that all businesses barring nightclubs, international passenger ships and international travel will be allowed to operate.
Here are the new rules for lockdown level two:
Alcohol sales
The sale of liquor by a licensed premises for off-consumption is permitted from 09:00 to 17:00, from Mondays to Thursdays. That means liquor stores are closed on Fridays, weekends, and public holidays. But you can buy alcohol at a licensed premises for on-site consumption over the weekend until the curfew of 22:00, so you can drink at a restaurant or bar over the weekend.
Tobacco can be sold again
Level two has no provisions on tobacco, which means no restrictions or limits on the sale of cigarettes, vaping liquid, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, or anything associated with those products.
Curfew rules
The curfew runs from 22:00 to 04:00, unless you have a permit to perform an essential service, or if you are attending to a security or medical emergency.
Masks
You are still not allowed to be in a public place, use any form of public transport, or enter a public building, place or premises, if you are not wearing a face mask.
Weddings
Weddings are now allowed – but only up to 50 people. Attendance at a funeral is also still limited to 50 persons, and night vigils are still not allowed.
Sport matches
No spectators are allowed, nor international fixtures.
Social events
You can have friends over, but only up to 10 visitors can come to your house.
Hotels, guesthouses – and Airbnb
Leisure accommodation is now allowed, even if you are from another province – “subject to a restriction on the number of persons allowed in such establishments to not more than 50 percent of the available floor space, with patrons observing a distance of at least one and half metres from each other”. For the first time since the start of the lockdown on March 27th, Airbnb establishments are also now permitted to do business again.
Concerts and entertainment events
Only 50 people are permitted at an event, or in a cinema.
Gyms
Only up to 50 people may be admitted to a gym. The same applies to sports grounds and fields as well as swimming pools.
Leisure activities
Beaches and public parks can open for all activities.
Nightclubs must stay closed
While bars, taverns, shebeens, and similar establishments can open – with a limitation of 50 persons or less, nightclubs must remain closed.
Travel
International passenger air travel for leisure purposes and passenger ships for international leisure remain prohibited. But all restrictions on inter-provincial have been lifted – including leisure travel.
Initiation practices are still banned
For the duration of the national state of disaster male and female initiation practices are prohibited.
