Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has been accused of acting like an ‘irrational dictator’, over the extended State of Disaster rules – Photo: Flickr / GCIS
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has been accused of acting like an ‘irrational dictator’, over the extended State of Disaster rules – Photo: Flickr / GCIS
The all-important signature has been added to our latest lockdown regulations: COGTA Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has officially published the new guidance, which is in place throughout the entirety of the Easter break. However, despite ‘Adjusted Level 1’ restrictions allowing South Africans to keep their freedoms, a warning has been issued about alcohol.
Dlamini-Zuma publishes new lockdown rules for Easter
Booze restrictions were essentially the only thing ‘tightened’ during President Ramaphosa’s address to the nation on Tuesday. There was even a loosening of regulations for religious gatherings, which can now host up to 500 people in an outdoor setting, and 250 indoors. The new laws come into effect from 00:01 on Friday, ending at 23:59 on Monday.
In the past, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s seal of approval hasn’t always been straightforward – she was allegedly responsible for the controversial cigarette ban last year, and more recently, amended the very definition of a beach to enforce further social distancing protocols. This time, however, has been relatively controversy-free.
Yes, you can be jailed for committing THESE alcohol offences
The only thing worth noting is that these temporary alcohol restrictions DO come with some severe penalties. Offenders can be fined or jailed if they consume liquor in any public place (outside of an on-site vendor). Booze traders could also be imprisoned if they attempt to sell their goods for off-site consumption over the four days of Easter:
“For the duration of our Easter holiday, the sale of liquor by a licensed premises for off-site consumption is prohibited. On-site consumption, however, if permitted – but the consumption of liquor in any other public place is forbidden.”
“Any person who fails to comply with, or contravenes a provision of the sub-regulations commits an offence and is, on conviction, liable to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or to both such fine and imprisonment.”
