By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.
The ban on the sale of alcohol is expected to be lifted when the country moves to a lower Covid-19 lockdown level this week.
This as cabinet is expected to ease Covid-19 restrictions, which will see the country move to Alert Level 2.
Sources privy to the latest talks say in light of decreasing numbers of daily Covid-19 infections, President Cyril Ramaphosa will announce changes which will include the lifting of the ban on sale of alcohol.
It wasn’t immediately clear when Ramaphosa would address the nation but insiders said there was an expectation that he would speak on Monday evening.
Among the eased restrictions, according to insiders, was a relaxing of the curfew, possibly to 11pm.
Sources inside the presidential co-ordinating council that met on Sunday said health minister Zweli Mkhize told the meeting that Covid-19 cases have dropped significantly and this allowed the country to ease restrictions. SA recorded 4,525 Covid-19 cases and 213 deaths on Sunday.
The country was moved from alert level 1 to level 3 on December 28 amid rising Covid-19 infections then. These saw the banning of alcohol sales, a 9pm-6am curfew and closure of on-land borders among others.
Sources said that the ban on alcohol sale is set to be lifted with off-site sales allowed from Monday to Thursday between 10am and 6pm while on-site consumption will be allowed from 10am to 9pm, when restaurants close.
Another source said the curfew hours will be pushed back to between 10pm to 4am and not 11pm while another source said discussions were still underway on whether to start the curfew at 10pm or 11pm. Travel during the curfew hours will be allowed as long as one can produce an employer’s letter.
Beaches and parks will be opened across the country.
Social and faith-based gatherings will continue to be limited to 50 people indoors.
There will be no changes when it comes to funerals as they will still be limited to 50 people within a two hour service.
Night clubs will remain closed and social and political gatherings will still not be allowed.
There are also no changes as it pertains to theatres and gyms.
The proposed changes will be announced by the co-operative governance and traditional affairs minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.