President Cyril Ramaphosa last night announced the immediate easing of several restrictions. Most of these directly impact the tourism and hospitality industries, including the sale of alcohol, the reopening of beaches and parks, and a change to the curfew.
As South Africa’s daily rate of COVID-19 infections has decreased, the following easing of restrictions is applicable under lockdown level three, with immediate effect:
- Public spaces including beaches and parks will be permitted to reopen, subject to health protocols.
- Curfew will now be from 23h00 to 04h00. Non-essential establishments must close at 22h00.
- Alcohol sales from retail outlets will be permitted Monday to Thursday from 10h00 to 18h00.
- On-site alcohol sales and consumption at restaurants and other licensed outlets will be permitted from 10h00 to 22h00 daily.
- Wine farms and micro-breweries may sell alcohol for off-site consumption during their normal hours of operation. This includes weekends.
While the tourism and hospitality sectors have welcomed the news, industry leaders have also said they plan to actively consult more with government to avoid the re-implementation of restrictions.
“We are encouraged to see that government has responded to our messages and it was positive to see the President specifically acknowledge the tourism industry, but we will definitely be consulting with government more regularly to prevent this from happening again,” Aidan Lawrence, chair of The Trail and Hiking Association of South Africa, told Travel News.
Aidan, who is based in the Eastern Cape, said he saw first-hand the devastation caused by the beach closures. “We managed to get about 12 associations and federations together and we sent off a signed document to government detailing just how devastating it is to not have any sort of warning that a beach closure is about to happen.”
Ceo of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, said the industry had not been consulted at all preceding the extension of the closure of beaches in January.
“It’s been a tough past two months and we should do what we can to avoid returning to these restrictions,” he said, speaking to national news broadcaster eNCA shortly after the announcement.
Tshifhiwa added that the relaxed regulations would have a positive impact on tourism businesses in coastal areas and those close to waterways who were now able to resume business.
Ramaphosa encouraged business owners and the public to act responsibly under the newly eased restrictions. “There is an ever-present danger of resurgence. This makes it necessary to remain on adjusted alert level three.”
City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management, James Vos, also encouraged safe practices. “We can get back to work safely by implementing all necessary protocols. We must be allowed to do so if we are to get on the road to recovery.”
Industry leaders further echoed this call. Ceo of the Restaurant Association of South Africa, Wendy Alberts, said: “Let’s promise to be responsible in our businesses and do everything possible to keep the lifting of the liquor ban.”
She noted that the lifting of the liquor restrictions and the extension of the curfew would be instrumental in helping restaurants in South Africa to survive. Many had taken massive hits with the banning of alcohol.
Vaccines arrive in SA
Meanwhile, the first consignment of COVID-19 vaccines arrived at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport yesterday afternoon (Monday, February 1). The President detailed the three-phase vaccine roll-out, in which healthcare workers would be the first to receive the vaccine and he made it clear that vaccinations would not be compulsory and that restrictions on movement would not be enforced on unvaccinated citizens.
