Photo: Unsplash
Photo: Unsplash
COGTA Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has confirmed that alcohol will indeed be available for sale this week, following the address made by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday evening. The ANC stalwart is the leader of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), and elaborated on the Level 2 changes.
Drinkers can rest easy – NDZ and the rest of Cabinet are very much on board with these relaxed rules on alcohol. As we take another bold step forward into this new normal, it’s important to note all the major changes. Here are all the official alterations for Level 2 that have been gazetted on Monday:
As I suspected, bars, taverns, shebeens and similar establishments will be restricted to 50 people. That will pack small venues to the rafters and leave large venues almost empty.
— Ivo Vegter (@IvoVegter) August 17, 2020
Relaying her speech to the media on Monday, Dlamini-Zuma has also stated that masks ‘must be worn’ by patrons in bars and restaurants, apart from when customers are drinking or eating. That could be tough to enforce, but this measure is seen as a necessity to facilitate the reopening of many pubs and taverns:
“Alcohol can now be served at bars, taverns and restaurants where they are licensed. They can operate, but will only be allowed to have 50 people in at a time. All patrons must sanitise, be in possession of a mask, and maintain their social distancing. People can remove their masks while drinking or eating, however.”
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma