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The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has published a new bulletin providing greater clarity on South Africa’s new lockdown rules for 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 the national and district levels for the country.
It also adds to the existing rules which were published by Dlamini-Zuma in a newsletter at the beginning of the week.
The latest gazette provides more clarity on hotels and other venues, as well as the country’s wine farms. It also officially introduces a ‘cut-off time’ of 21:00 for many companies in the South African hotspot regions of the Eastern Cape and Western Cape.
Meetings
Hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, timeshare facilities, resorts and guesthouses have the full capacity of rooms available for accommodation, and customers should observe a distance of at least one and a half meters from each other when found in common spaces.
Conference, dining, entertainment and bar facilities are limited to a maximum of 100 people or less for an indoor meeting and 250 people or less for an outdoor meeting.
In the previous bulletin published on Monday, the government confirmed that the following venues or events are limited to 100 people or less in case of an indoor gathering and 250 people or less in case of an outdoor gathering:
- Social events;
- Political events and traditional council meetings;
- Conferences and meetings;
- Concerts and live performances;
- Cinemas and theaters.
If the place is too small to hold 100 people observing a distance of at least one and a half meters from each other, then no more than 50% of the capacity of the place can be used.
Alcohol
Registered wineries and vineyards may continue to operate, offering tastings and selling wine to the public for off-site consumption, subject to strict enforcement of curfew and compliance with social distancing measures and health protocols.
In the bulletin published on Monday, the government indicated that the sale of liquor in establishments authorized for external consumption is only allowed from 10 a.m. to 6 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.
Hot spots
In keeping with the curfew of 22:00 to 04:00 for critical areas in South Africa, the new directive also introduces a new closing time of 21:00 for certain establishments to allow staff and members of the public return home on time.
In hotspot areas, the closing time has been set at 9:00 p.m. for the following establishments, both indoors and outdoors:
- Religious institutions;
- Places where social events are held;
- Venues that host concerts and five functions;
- 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.
You can find the full list of blocking rules here.
Read: What happens when Covid-19 vaccines become available in South Africa?
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