With the exception of a limited period in which alcohol will not be for sale off-site, there were no material changes to South Africa’s current Level 1 lockdown announced in President Ramaphosa’s “family meeting” speech on national TV this evening, Tuesday March 30.
The President announced that off-site sales of alcohol will be prohibited on Friday April 2, Saturday April 3, Sunday April 4 and Monday April 5. However on-site consumption of alcohol may continue as before, up to 23h00.
Beaches, riverbanks, open areas and parks remain open, subject to the required social distancing, mask-wearing rules already in place, despite wide fears that a ban would be put on these.
Responding to the announcement, CEO of the Tourism Business Council South Africa, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, said on his Facebook page: “It’s been one hell of a fight for interprovincial travel, on-site consumption of alcohol and curfew. I can go to sleep now. This part of work is done.”
Other non-tourism adjustments were made concerning the attendance of funerals and religious gatherings.
