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The Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has published a new gazette officially introducing new closure restrictions for South Africa ahead of the holiday season.
The bulletin follows on from a speech delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday night (December 14), in which he announced new measures at both the national and district levels for South Africa.
The document provides clarity on topics such as hot spots, movement of people, closing times, and public meetings. The key changes are described in more detail below.
Hotpot notification
The gazette requires all municipalities in the district to report an increase in Covid-19 cases. Specifically, municipalities must, after consultation with their local municipalities in their area:
- Alert communities within that district to the increasing number of infections that could lead to that district being declared a hotspot;
- Post on their websites and in the local media, areas with high infection rates within the district; and
- Update information when available.
Curfew
Each person is confined to their place of residence from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. every day, except in designated hotspot areas.
This is the case unless you have been granted permission to perform an essential service or are faced with an emergency. The bulletin also states that the following establishments must close at 10:00 p.m. every day:
- Religious institutions;
- Places where social events are held;
- Venues that host concerts and live performances;
- Cinemas;
- Theaters;
- Casinos;
- Museums, galleries and archives;
- Gyms, fitness centers and swimming pools;
- Restaurants, bars, taverns, shebeens and similar establishments;
- Places that host sports, artistic and cultural activities; and
- Any other place where a meeting may take place.
More expensive
South Africans will be required to wear masks in the following areas:
- In any form of public transport;
- When entering a building, place or premises, including government buildings, places or premises, used by the public to obtain goods or services;
- In any open public space.
All employers should take steps to promote physical distancing from employees. An employer may not allow any employee to perform any task or enter the work facility if the employee is not wearing a cloth mask, household item, or other appropriate item that covers the nose and mouth while performing their duties.
South Africans will not be required to wear a mask when exercising vigorously in a public place, as long as the person is kept at least one and a half meters away from anyone else.
Attendance at funerals
Attendance at a funeral is limited to a maximum of 100 people, with people observing a distance of at least one and a half meters from each other, and if the venue is too small to hold 100 people observing a distance of at least one and a half half a meter from each other, no more than 50% of the capacity of the place can be used.
All night watches and post-funeral gatherings are prohibited.
Meetings
Meetings at the following venues or events are limited to 100 people or less for an indoor meeting and 250 people or less for an outdoor meeting,
If the place is too small to accommodate 100 people observing a distance of at least one and a half meters from each other, no more than 50% of the capacity of the place can be used.
- Social events;
- Political events and traditional council meetings;
- Conferences and meetings;
- Concerts and live performances;
- Cinemas and theaters.
Beaches
Gatherings on the beaches are permitted subject to the following exceptions and conditions:
- The beaches of the Eastern Cape Province will be closed to the public from December 16, 2020 to January 3, 2021;
- The Garden Route District beaches will be closed to the public from December 16, 2020 through January 3, 2021;
- The beaches of the province of KwaZulu-Natal will be closed to the public on December 16, 25, 26 and 31, 2020 and January 1, 2 and 3, 2021;
- Beaches in the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces (excluding the Garden Route district beaches) will be open to the public;
- Festivals, live music, live performances, and loud music are prohibited on the beaches.
All beaches that are open to the public must:
- Be open between 09:00 and 18:00;
- Be monitored for compliance with all health protocols, use of masks and social distancing measures;
- Any loud music, whether live or otherwise, is prohibited.
Failure to comply with the prohibitions, conditions, beach opening days and the use of masks and social distancing measures will lead to the closure of those beaches in breach throughout the festive season.
Sale and dispensing of liquor
The sale of liquor by premises authorized for consumption outside the facilities is only allowed from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Thursday, except Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
Alcoholic beverages can be sold in authorized establishments for consumption on the spot, subject to strict compliance with the curfew.
The consumption of liquor is not allowed in public places, except in authorized premises for consumption on the spot.
Read: Ramaphosa Announces New Lockdown Restrictions For South Africa Including Beach Closures, Curfew And Alcohol Sales
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