With the exception of a limited period in which alcohol will not be for sale off-site, there were no material changes to South Africa’s current Level 1 lockdown announced in President Ramaphosa’s “family meeting” speech on national TV this evening, Tuesday March 30. 

The President announced that off-site sales of alcohol will be prohibited on Friday April 2, Saturday April 3, Sunday April 4 and Monday April 5. However on-site consumption of alcohol may continue as before, up to 23h00. 

Beaches, riverbanks, open areas and parks remain open, subject to the required social distancing, mask-wearing rules already in place, despite wide fears that a ban would be put on these. 

Other non-tourism adjustments were made concerning the attendance of funerals and religious gatherings. 

Responding to the announcement, CEO of the Tourism Business Council South Africa, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, said on his Facebook page: “It’s been one hell of a fight for interprovincial travel, on-site consumption of alcohol and curfew. I can go to sleep now. This part of work is done.”