Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has published a new gazette that provides further details around South Africa’s level 1 lockdown over the Easter period.
Movement of persons
Every person is confined to his or her place of residence from 00h00 until 04h00 daily unless they have been granted permission as an essential worker or are attending an emergency.
People travelling on international flights have also been given exemption.
Closing time for the following establishments, whether indoors or outdoors, is 23h00:
- Cinemas;
- Theatres;
- Casinos;
- Museums, galleries and archives;
- Public swimming pools;
- Beaches and public parks;
- Game parks, botanical gardens, aquariums and zoos; (h) gyms and fitness centres;
- Restaurants, bars, shebeens and taverns;
- Venues hosting auctions;
- Venues hosting professional sport;
- Venues hosting faith-based or religious gatherings.
Attendance of funerals
Attendance of a funeral is limited to 100 persons or less – and if the venue is too small to hold the prescribed number of persons observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other, then not more than 50% of the capacity of the venue may be used.
This is also subject to strict adherence to all health protocols and all persons maintaining a distance of one and a half metres from each other.
- Night vigils are not allowed;
- After -funeral gatherings, including “after- tears” gatherings, are not allowed;
- During a funeral, a person must wear a face mask and adhere to all health protocols and social distancing;
- The duration of a funeral is restricted to a maximum of two hours.
Gatherings
Every person, when attending a gathering and in order to limit exposure to Covid-19, must:
- Wear a face mask:
- Adhere to all health protocols:
- Maintain a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other;
- Adhere to the curfew hours as provided
- Adhere to any other health protocols and social distancing measures
- An owner or operator of any indoor or outdoor facility where gatherings are held must display the certificate of occupancy which sets out the maximum number of persons the facility may hold.
The gazette states that all faith-based or religious gatherings, as well as social. political and cultural gatherings are permitted. However, they are limited to 250 persons or less for indoor venues and 500 persons or less for outdoor venues.
If the venue is too small to hold the prescribed number of persons observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other. then not more than 50% of the capacity of the venue may be used, subject to strict adherence to all health protocols and social distancing measures.
The gazette states that persons attending faith-based or religious gatherings are not permitted to:
- Sleep-over, after a service. at the place of worship;
- Gather outside of the designated places of worship.
Gatherings at a workplace for work purposes are allowed. subject to strict adherence to all health protocols and social distancing measures.
Hotels, lodges. bed and breakfasts, timeshare facilities, resorts and guest houses are allowed full capacity of the available rooms for accommodation. with patrons wearing face masks and observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other when in common spaces.
Restaurants, bars. shebeens and taverns are subject to a limitation of a maximum of 250 persons or less for indoor venues and 500 persons or less for outdoor venues and if the venue is too small to hold 250 persons indoors or 500 persons outdoors observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other, then not more than 50% of the capacity of the venue may be used.
Conferencing. dining and entertainment facilities are subject to a limitation of a maximum of 250 persons or less for indoor venues and 500 indoors or 500 persons outdoors observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other, then not more than 50% of the capacity of the venue may be used.
Sporting activities. including both professional and non-professional matches, by recognised sporting bodies are allowed. subject to strict adherence to the times of operation and existing regulations.
Liquor
For the duration of the Easter period, the sale of liquor by licensed premises for off-site consumption is prohibited.
The sale of liquor by a licensed premises for on-site consumption is permitted, subject to strict adherence to the curfew contemplated in regulation.
The consumption of liquor in public places, except in licensed on-site consumption premises, is not permitted.
Any person who fails to comply with these regulations commits an offence and is, on conviction liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or to both such fine and imprisonment.
For the purposes of of these regulations ‘Easter Period’ means Friday (2 April 2021) from 00h01 until Monday (5 April 2021) at 23h59.