Covid-19: South Africa closes all land borders and remains on Adjusted Alert Level 3 Lockdown!

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on 11 January 2021 that the country will remain on Adjusted Alert Level 3 Lockdown. South Africa has been on Adjusted Lockdown Alert Level 3 since 29 December 2020, when the resurgence in infections started. While most measures remain in place, minor but significant adjustments to the current regulations have been introduced. The amended regulations have been gazetted by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. Below are some of the key points of the extended lockdown, as outlined by the Government Gzette No. 44066.

• All land ports of entry into and out of South Africa are closed until 15 February 2021, with the following exceptions:
• The transportation of fuel, cargo and goods
• Emergency medical attention for a life-threatening condition (with proof of such treatment)
• The return of a South African national, permanent resident, person with a long-term residence visa, spouse with a visa, child or children with visa, person with a work visa and holder of a business visa
• Funeral purposes for family members in the first degree of kinship to the deceased person
• Diplomats
• The deportation of foreign nationals
• The departure of a South African national, or permanent resident, to his or her place of employment, study or residence
• Daily commuters from neighbouring countries who attend school in South Africa.

• International air travel is restricted to:
• OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg
• King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban
• Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town

• Air travel is still permitted, subject to the traveller providing a valid certificate of a negative Covid-19 test which was obtained not more than 72 hours before the date of travel.

• In the event of the traveller’s failure to submit a certificate as proof of a negative Covid-19 test, they will be required to do an antigen test on arrival at their own cost and in the event of testing positive for Covid-19, they will be required to quarantine at their own cost.

• All commercial seaports will remain open and small crafts will be allowed entry into seaports, inline with all health and border law enforcement protocols.

• Foreign nationals in South Africa with visas that have expired and were automatically extended to 31 January 2021, due to their inability to travel during the lockdown due to COVID-19, will have their visas automatically extended to 31 March 2021.

• A foreign tourist who arrived in South Africa prior to the commencement of this regulation, will have his or her visa automatically extended to 31 March 2021.

• Every person is confined to his or her place of residence from 21:00 until 05:00 daily unless a person:
• has been granted a special permission
• is attending to a security or medical emergency.

• Any person who fails to abide by the curfew commits an offence and is, on conviction, liable to a fine or a period of imprisonment not exceeding six months or to both such fine andimprisonment.

• Closing time for the following establishments, whether indoors or outdoors, is 20:00:
• cinemas
• theatres
• casinos
• museums, galleries and archives
• gyms and fitness centres
• restaurants
• venues hosting auctions
• venues hosting professional sport
  

Coronavirus pandemic: South Africa extends lockdown by two weeks!

The Government of South Africa has extended the 21-day nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus by a further two weeks until 30 April 2020. The country's President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the extension in a televised address on the evening of the 09 April 2020, as the number of confirmed cases in South Africa climbed to 1 934 cases. According to South Africa's President, "after careful consideration of the available evidence, the National Coronavirus Command Council has decided to extend the nation-wide lockdown by a further two weeks beyond the initial 21 days".

South Africa's lockdown restrictions are among the most stringent in the world - no jogging, no hiking, no dog-walking, no leaving home except for essential trips, no sales of alcohol or cigarettes and prison or heavy fines for law-breaking.

Coronavirus pandemic: South Africa to go into 21-day lockdown!

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the country will go under a 21-day lockdown from 26 March 2020 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. According to the President, the measure will be mandatory and had to be implemented to ensure that the spread of the Coronavirus is reduced and the curve is flattened.  Under the lockdown, people in South Africa will not be allowed to leave their homes except to buy food, medical supplies, collect social grants or seek medical attention. All shops and businesses will ge closed except for pharmacies, supermarkets, petrol stations and health care providers as well as laboratories, banks and other essential financial services. 

The only persons exempted from the lockdown will be South African Police Service (SAPS) personnel, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) personnel, healthcare workers, emergency personnel, security services, military medical personnel, soldiers as well as those who are in the production, distribution of food and basic goods, banking services, water service, power utility service and laboratory services.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will be deployed to assist the South South African Police Service (SAPS) during the lockdown.