Photo: GCIS
Photo: GCIS
The morning after the night before is never a good time for drinkers, but this particular ‘hangover’ can’t be blamed on the sauce. Amongst other restrictions, Cyril Ramaphosa announced the surprise return of the alcohol ban, outlawing all sales of liquor effective immediately on Sunday evening. Later on Monday, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma will lead a briefing of the NCCC – and you can watch the live stream here.
We have received confirmation that the COGTA Minister will lead the briefing, which gets underway at 11:00. Minister of Trade, Industry & Competition, Ebrahim Patel and Minister of Justice & Correctional Services, Ronald Lamola are both set to speak on behalf of their ministries, too.
“Ministers who serve in the National Coronavirus Command Council will brief the media following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation on Sunday 12 July 2020, on Government’s further plans to combat the spread of COVID-19 in South Africa.The briefings will be held on Monday, 13 July 2020 at 11:00.”
At 15:00, the social cluster will follow-up where the NCCC left of, as the group is also set to host a presser.
[Live stream will appear here, just before 11:00]
As usual, the Command Council is employed to expand on the details set out by the president’s announcements. In some cases, each head of department can introduce their own changes if cleared by Cabinet. On Monday, we’re expecting to learn more about the alcohol ban, and limits on trade.
Ebrahim Patel has courted plenty of controversy during this pandemic, after he was asked to decide what supermarkets could and could not sell with South Africa in the harder stages of lockdown. The cooked food ban, for example, still remains fresh in the memories of many. Elsewhere, we can expect more details on the limitations of exercise, and strict warnings against public gatherings are also likely to be shared.