SA slips back to adjusted Level 4

  • June 29th, 2021

President Cyril Ramaphosa has moved the country to an adjusted alert Level 4 lockdown, with stricter restrictions, effective, today (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: 

A) 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 

B) Is attending to a security or medical emergency or 

C) 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 

A) OR Tambo International Airport 

B) King Shaka International Airport 

C) Cape Town International Airport 

D) Lanseria International Airport and, 

E) 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.

Please note that the above is only a summary of the regulations. SATSA is trying to get clarity on travellers who need to transit overnight in Gauteng and accommodation serving in-house meals.  To review and familiarise yourself with the regulations, click here.

SATSA will keep you updated on any new developments as and when received. Kind regards,
Natalia Rosa

The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) has objected to the 50% occupancy levels for all accommodation facilities – as contained in the gazetted regulations for the new adjusted lockdown alert Level 4 announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa last night (June 27) – and expects this regulation to be changed by the end of today (June 28), reports Tourism Update.

“This issue is being looked at urgently today,” said CEO of the TBCSA, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa.

Clarity on transits

Speaking to Tourism Update this morning, Tshivhengwa clarified certain questions that arose following Ramaphosa’s announcement last night.

The confusion largely concerned passengers transiting Gauteng en-route to other destinations. Gauteng residents have been banned from undertaking any leisure trips in and out of the province. This is due to the fact that the majority (over 60%) of new COVID-19 cases (the Delta variant) have come from South Africa’s richest province.

“Therefore, to prevent the spread of infections, Gauteng residents have been restricted from travelling. However, travellers from other provinces in SA, from the rest of Africa and internationally, may still transit through Gauteng and through OR Tambo International Airport,” said Tshivhengwa.

“As far as this is concerned, should they need to stay in a hotel or any other formal accommodation facility while in transit, this will be permitted,” he clarified, adding that it was advisable for travellers to carry their itinerary as well as their air ticket and possible booking details for their visit in another province along with them.

As for road transport operators who may be picking guests up in Gauteng, or transporting them through Gauteng via road from other provinces or countries, they are travelling for work purposes and will be allowed to travel through Gauteng.

“They would, however, need to obtain a permit for travel,” emphasised Tshivhengwa. Instructions on where to obtain the forms are included in the gazette.

To read the full article, click here. Yours in tourism,
Natalia Rosa