President Cyril Ramaphosa has moved the country to an adjusted alert Level 4 lockdown, with stricter restrictions, effective 28 June 2021.
The published regulations are in place for two weeks until 11 July and contain the following key points:
Movement of persons
Every person is confined to his/her place of residence from 21h00 to 04h00, unless a person has:
- Been granted permission through the directions issued by the relevant cabinet member or a permit, which corresponds to form 7 of Annexure A enclosed in the regulations
- Is attending to a security or medical emergency or
- Arrives on a flight or is travelling to or from an airport which necessitates travelling during restricted hours of movement: provided that the person travelling is in possession of a valid boarding pass as proof of flight or a copy of the airline ticket.
The closing time for the places permitted to remain open is 20h00.
Gauteng:
Interprovincial travel for leisure to and from Gauteng is prohibited Travel to and from the province is permitted under conditions including:
- For persons doing so in the course of carrying out work responsibilities or performing any service permitted under adjusted alert Level 4, provided that such person is in possession of a permit issued by the employer which corresponds with Form 7 of Annexure A.
- For the attendance of a funeral in or out of Gauteng. This is provided that the person wishing to travel to or from the province must obtain a permit corresponds with Form 4 of Annexure A, from his or her nearest magistrate office or police station to travel to the funeral and back.
- For persons transiting through Gauteng.
- Any person who was not at their place of residence or work before the lockdown period and who could not travel between other provinces to or from Gauteng when the new regulations took effect. This will be permitted on a once-off basis.
Places and premises closed to the public
Any place or premises normally open to the public where religious, cultural, entertainment, recreational or similar activities take place will be closed. These include:
- Gyms and fitness centres
- Flea markets
- Fetes and bazaars
- Night clubs Casinos
- Taverns and shebeens, or similar establishments except for the sales of off-site consumption of food and non-alcoholic beverages
- Conferences, exhibitions and entertainment facilities
- Theatres and cinemas
- Museums, libraries, archives and galleries
- Beaches and parks will remain open, but not for gatherings
The Cabinet minister responsible for cooperative governance and traditional affairs may, by direction in the Gazette, determine any other place or premises that must be closed.
Accommodation
Hotels, lodges, bed & breakfasts, timeshare facilities, resorts and guesthouses are allowed 50% of the capacity of the available rooms for accommodation, with patrons observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other when in common spaces. Dining facilities at accommodation facilities are permitted for room service and delivery only. Restaurants may only operate for off-site consumption of food and non-alcoholic beverages.
The TBCSA has raised objections to the above relating to the following points and will provide updates as and when received:
- That accommodation is classified as a gathering. This is not correct.
- The regulations stipulate that establishments are allowed 50% capacity of rooms available. The objection raised is that establishments cannot and should not require people who are already at the establishment to leave because of the clause.
Partial reopening of borders
The 20 land borders, which are fully open, will remain open and the 33 land borders which were closed, will remain closed.
- International air travel is restricted to the following airports: OR Tambo International Airport, King Shaka International Airport, Cape Town International Airport, Lanseria International Airport and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport.
- Long-haul flight departures and arrivals at the airports listed above are permitted during the hours of curfew.
- All international travellers arriving at the airports listed must provide a valid certificate of a negative COVID-19 negative test. The traveller will be required to do an antigen test on arrival at his or her own cost and in the event of a traveller testing positive for COVID-19, he or she will be required to isolate him or herself at their own cost, for a period of 10 days
- Travelling to and from the country is allowed, subject to sub-regulation (3): Daily commuters from neighbouring countries who attend school and who are allowed entry into the country
The sale, dispensing or transportation of liquor
- The sale, dispensing and distribution of liquor is prohibited
- The transportation of liquor for export purposes is permitted
- No special events liquor licenses may be considered for approval during the duration of the national state of disaster
Face masks
The wearing of face masks in public spaces remains mandatory for all persons, excluding children under the age of 6.
