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President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that a series of South African lockdown regulations will be relaxed as the country moves to a level 1 lockdown starting at midnight on Sunday (September 20).
In a national address on Wednesday night (September 16), the president said that the country has ‘weathered the storm’ in its fight against coronavirus and that the data shows a clear downward trend in the country.
However, he warned that ‘however you look at it we are still in the middle of a deadly epidemic’ and said that the most important task is to ensure that the country is not affected by a second wave of infections as is being seen internationally.
To help prevent a possible second wave, Ramaphosa said the government will expand its testing to include more categories of people. He said the government also plans to increase its contact tracing capabilities.
Ramaphosa said South Africa is also participating in an initiative by the World Health Organization to ensure access and distribution of a successful coronavirus vaccine at a lower cost. Local experts are also working on a vaccine.
Simplified restrictions
As Covid-19 cases decline, the president said the country will move to lockdown level 1 starting at midnight on Sunday (which will take effect at midnight or 0001 on Monday), with restrictions on the following areas:
Meetings
- Meetings will be allowed as long as the number of people does not exceed 50% of the normal capacity of a venue, up to a maximum of 250 people for indoor meetings and 500 people for outdoor meetings;
- The maximum capacity at funerals has been increased to 100 people;
- The night watches are still forbidden;
- The limits of places like gyms and recreational facilities have been increased to 50% of the total capacity;
- The current restrictions on sporting events are maintained.
Travel
- The government will gradually ease restrictions on international travel for business and pleasure starting October 1, subject to containment measures. A list of allowed countries based on the latest scientific data will be published;
- International travel will only be allowed through the main border ports or through OR Tambo International, Cape Town International or King Shaka International;
- Travelers will need to provide a negative coronavirus certificate or they will be quarantined at their own cost;
- All travelers must install the Coivd-19 alert level application.
Other changes
- The night curfew will apply between 00:00 and 04:00;
- Alcohol for home consumption can be sold between 09:00 and 17:00 from Monday to Friday;
- Consumption will be allowed in the place subject to compliance with the curfew;
- More government facilities will return.
Ramaphosa said that this will be the ‘new normal’ and the updated restrictions will be released in the coming days, providing more clarity.
New economic recovery plan
The move to level 1 comes after the National Council for Economic Development and Labor (Nedlac) agreed on an action plan for South Africa’s economic recovery.
The plan is aimed at building confidence and putting South Africa on a path of investment and growth.
“The social partners have identified priority areas for the reconstruction of the economy, as well as structural reforms and other programs that will allow sustainable and inclusive growth with an intensive focus on job creation,” said the presidency.
While final details of the plan will only be announced once it is finalized by the cabinet, the presidency said a central focus will be addressing Eskom’s financing and structural issues.
“The social partners also agreed on a social pact that commits the government, companies, workers and the community to mobilize funds to address the Eskom financial crisis in a sustainable way, in exchange for an efficient, productive and adequate Eskom that generates electricity in affordable prices for communities and industries, ”he said.
Another key pillar of the plan will be infrastructure, with a massive development push seen as key to driving post-shutdown recovery and job creation.
This comes after the presidency published a list of ‘priority infrastructure projects’, which is expected to pave the way for the start of private investment in a R2.3 trillion program over the next decade.
Read: More Airports Open for Travel to South Africa
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