Level 2 rules allow restaurants to sell alcohol on weekends

There are a few surprises in the Covid-19 alert Level 2 rules that were gazetted by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, on Monday.

In a big win for the hospitality industry – restaurants, bars and taverns will be allowed to also sell alcohol on weekends, but it needs to be for on-site consumption only and is until the curfew time of 10pm. However, bottle stores will still be restricted to selling alcohol from Monday to Thursday between 9am and 5pm for off-site consumption.

Other surprises include concerts, weddings and smaller events now being allowed, though these will still need to be restricted to no more than 50 people. The government has previously allowed small conferences of 50 people or less under alert level 3, in addition to inter-provincial travel for businesspeople and in essential and emergency cases.

Read:

SA placed on Alert Level 2, effective August 17 at midnight

Move to alert Level 2 ‘is not a free for all’ – Ramaphosa

The gazetting of the new rules follows President Cyril Ramaphosa announcing on Saturday that South Africa will see an easing of Covid-19 restrictions to alert Level 2 as of Tuesday. He mentioned that inter-provincial leisure travel will be allowed for the first time since the hard lockdown in March, in addition to the lifting of the tobacco and alcohol bans.

The president also revealed that family visits would be permitted.

According to the new alert Level 2 rules, no more than 10 people are allowed to visit you at your home.

Gyms and Airbnb establishments are also now officially being allowed to operate for the first time since the hard lockdown in late March. However, like restaurants and eventing venues, gyms will also need to conform to the rule around not allowing more than 50 people on site at any one time.

Accredited hotels, lodges and bed & breakfast establishments have previously been allowed to accept business guests as well as leisure tourists (only within a province) under Level 3 restrictions. With the move to Level 2 and inter-provincial travel (between provinces) now being opened up, new accommodation rules stipulate that establishments cannot operate at more than 50% capacity.

Casinos have already had to operate under similar restrictions after being allowed to operate in Level 3 since July.

As mentioned by Ramaphosa on Saturday, under Level 2 restrictions international travel remains banned. In addition, spectators will not be allowed at major sports matches. Major conferences and mega events are still not permitted.

The gazetted Level 2 rules stipulate that nightclubs are still not allowed to operate, which seems to be in line with restrictions on mass gatherings.

Public parks and beaches will now also officially be opened, however, some of these have been used under fitness rules in Level 3.