Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma outlined the regulations under the new adjusted Alert Level 3 on Tuesday, December 29.
After the President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address regarding new lockdown procedures, there was confusion regarding the beach and public space closures.
Beaches in all provinces along our coast are closed for two weeks, excluding the Northern Cape.
Beaches, rivers, dams and public swimming pools are all closed to the public in areas considered hotspots. These include all provinces along the coast except for the Northern Cape. Beaches in this province are open subject to time restrictions of 6am-6pm.
Dlamini-Zuma warned, however, that should the province become a hotspot the government will close these spots for them as well.
Public parks are also closed for the two week period but this caused some confusion as to whether this included the mountain and national parks as well.
Dlamini-Zuma explained that game parks, botanic gardens, zoos and aquariums which have access controls are allowed to open between 9am and 6pm with restrictions on the number of people allowed to enter.
She did not clarify if the national parks and mountains fall under any of these designations, especially as they have no access control or limits.
Currently, the Table Mountain Cableway is continuing operations, which is understandable under the limit controls portion of the adjusted regulations. However, it is still unclear if these parks are open to hikers and nature walkers as well.
With regards to international travel, Dlamini-Zuma confirmed that nothing has changed. Borders which have been open will remain so and the Kosi Bay border post will be opening on January, 1 as planned. All other borders will remain closed.
Those travellers who arrive after curfew on flights landing later have been assured that they will be allowed to travel to their accommodation after curfew. Dlamini-Zuma advised them to keep their passport or flight ticket on hand to show to police officers who may stop them, as proof that they landed after 9pm.
All guest accommodation is allowed to operate at full capacity but strict COVID-19 regulations including masks, hand sanitiser and social distancing is expected in public parts of these establishments. So leisure travel is open, and inter-provincial travel is also permitted.
Read all the new gazetted rules here.
Picture: @stephanoehen/Twittere
