On the 28th of February 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the daily infection rates have decreased and that South Africa will be entering Level 1 as of the 1st of March 2021.
Chapter 6 of the Disaster Management Act of 2002 has been amended to adjust regulations from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 1. There has however been an adjustment to Level 1 regulations. These include the following:
Movement of persons
Every person is confined to his or her place of residence from 00H00 until 04H00 daily unless a person has a permit, is attending a security or medical emergency and or arrives on a flight or is travelling to or from an airport. Any person who fails to abide by the curfew commits an offence and is on conviction liable to a fine or a period of imprisonment not exceeding six months, or to both such fine and imprisonment.
The following establishments must close at 23:00;
cinemas, theatres, casinos, museums, galleries, and archives, public swimming pool, beaches and public parks, game parks, botanical gardens, aquariums and zoos, gyms and fitness centres, restaurants, venues hosting auctions, venues hosting professional sport and venues hosting faith-based, religious, social, political, and cultural gatherings.
Mandatory protocols when in a public place
Wearing a facemask in public places is still mandatory this excludes a child under the age of six years and any person who fails to comply with a verbal instruction by an enforcement officer to wear a face mask commits an offence and is, on conviction liable to a fine or a period of imprisonment not exceeding six months, or to both such fine and imprisonment.
Gatherings
Indoor gatherings may not exceed 50% of venue capacity and up to a maximum of 100 people.
Outdoor gatherings may not exceed 50% of venue capacity up to a maximum of 250 people.
Health protocols must be observed at gatherings, including maintaining a distance of at least 1.5 meters between people.
Alcohol
Alcohol sales are permitted as normal and may not be sold during the curfew.
Excluded from operating
These include:
Night-Vigils
After funeral gatherings including “after-tears’’ gatherings
Night clubs
Land borders that remain closed, excluding the land borders contemplated in regulation 78(1)
Passenger ships for international leisure purposes, excluding small crafts, in line with health and border law enforcement protocols
Attendance of any sporting event by spectators
Exclusions relating to public transport services as set out in the directions issued by the Cabinet member responsible for transport
Exclusions relating to education services as set out in the directions issued by the Cabinet members responsible for education
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