Staff Reporter.
South Africa’s national coronavirus command council was holding what government sources have described as a “regular” meeting and the meeting comes as the rate of infections has been on a steady decline in the past week.
The National Coronavirus Command Council met on Wednesday.
The meeting comes as the government remains under pressure from liquor traders and the restaurant industry to lift the ban on the sale of alcohol.
Lifting the prohibition on alcohol sales have been mooted in several government meetings this past week.
On Saturday at a meeting of Nedlac – which brings together government, business and labour – there was a discussion about the alcohol ban and that there needs to be a resolution on the matter, considering the financial impact of the ban.
Nedlac can’t make a decision on the matter.
Then, on Sunday, the Presidential Coordinating Council (PCC) met.
News24 understands that Health Minister Zweli Mkhize’s presentation to this meeting indicated that the rate of infection is slowing.
Subsequently, the relaxation of some regulations was discussed, including the lifting of the booze ban.
A change in the regulations must first be approved by Cabinet.
The ban was implemented to ease the strain on South Africa’s health services as a second wave of infections engulfed the country towards the end of last year.
The state of disaster will have to be extended on 15 February as well.
And the Presidency is still holding its cards close to the chest as to when President Cyril Ramaphosa will again address the nation.
Meanwhile the ANC in the Western Cape committed to fighting racial profiling and differential policing following law enforcement’s response to Saturday’s beach protests.
Hundreds of residents along the False Bay coastline, Camps Bay, and Plettenberg Bay flocked to the shores in defiance of the imposed beach ban.
They said with Covid-19 cases declining in the province, the shores should be reopened to the public.
Government closed beaches to prevent the spread of COVID-19 under alert level 3 lockdown.
The City of Cape Town said while it supports the demonstrations, it called on residents to be mindful of the regulations.
No arrests were made during the act of civil disobedience.