LOCKDOWN LEVEL 1

Disaster management regulations

 

• Gazetted on 18 September, the new regulations:
  • came into force at 00:01 on 21 September.
• They limit the number of people allowed to gather:
  • at large indoor venues (to 250)
  • at open-air venues (to 500)
  • at funerals (to 100, with night vigils prohibited).
• The venue limitations apply to:
  • gatherings at ‘faith-based institutions’
  • ‘political events’
  • traditional council meetings
  • gatherings at places of employment
  • conference and other meeting venues, and
  • concerts and live performances.
• Unless stated otherwise, all other venues are restricted to using no more than 50% of their capacity, including cinemas and theatres (regarding which an amendment was gazetted on 20 September).
• Ministerial directives will be issued on the number of people permitted to gather at:
  • casinos
  • sports grounds and fields
  • beaches and public parks
  • museums, galleries, libraries and archives
  • gyms, fitness centres and swimming pools
  • hotels, lodges, bed-and-breakfasts, timeshare facilities, resorts, guest houses, restaurants, bars, taverns, shebeens and ‘similar establishments’, and
  • auctions.
• Regarding international travel:
  • it will remain prohibited between South Africa and countries with high Covid-19 infection and transmission rates, except for business purposes as approved by the Minister of Home Affairs
  • the Ministers of Health and Home Affairs will:
    • determine the criteria to be met by anyone entering SA from a high-risk country outside the African continent, and
    • compile a list of all high-risk countries, to be ‘amended from time to time’
  • the 35 land border posts closed when the State of Disaster was announced will not be re-opened, according to Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
  • ‘all commercial seaports will be opened’, but existing restrictions on visits from international cruise ships will remain in place
  • only OR Tambo, King Shaka and Cape Town international airports will open for international air travel
  • a ministerial directive will determine the conditions to be met and procedures followed when visa application services resume, and
  • in consultation with the Ministers of Health and Transport, the Minister of Home Affairs will also develop international travel Covid-19 ‘containment protocols’.
• The new regulations are much the same as those for lockdown level two regarding:
  • evictions
  • the demolition of places of residence
  • rental housing
  • re-opening businesses
  • nightclubs (which will remain closed)
  • initiation practices (which will remain prohibited)
  • public transport, and
  • controlled visits to various facilities.
• Curfew hours have been reduced (00:01 to 04:00).
• Liquor may be sold at retail outlets between 09:00 and 17:00 from Monday to Friday (but not during weekends and public holidays).
• On-site alcohol consumption is permitted at licensed premises, which must observe the curfew.

 

Schools

 

• On 15 September, amendments were gazetted to ministerial directives spelling out:
  • the support to be provided to special needs learners continuing their education at home, and
  • the physical distancing requirements to be met at boarding hostels.

 

Transport

 

• A ministerial directive gazetted on 15 September announced the reopening of Sishen and Polokwane airports for domestic passenger flights.
• On the same day, a separate directive confirmed that game drive vehicles are permitted to carry the full number of people for which they are licensed.

 

DEVELOPMENTS UNRELATED TO THE COVID-19 STATE OF DISASTER

Environment

 

• Stricter greenhouse gas emissions reporting requirements were gazetted on 11 September, when they came into force.
• South Africa’s 7th national greenhouse gas emissions inventory report has been released in draft form for comment.

 

Prepared by Pam Saxby