President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that South Africa’s level 3 lockdown regulations will be relaxed to allow a number of businesses to reopen.<\/p>\n
In a national address<\/a> <\/strong>on Wednesday, Ramaphosa said that this will include the reopening of restaurants for sit-down meals, and personal care services including hairdressers.<\/p>\n However, the president has made it clear that specific and stringent safety requirements will have to be followed as part of this reopening. He added that protocols will need to be strictly adhered to for these activities to remain open.<\/p>\n While official guidelines will be published at a later date, the government has indicated<\/a> <\/strong>that restaurants, bars, taverns and shebeens are still prohibited from selling alcohol<\/strong> for onsite consumption.<\/p>\n This is likely to be a blow for the struggling restaurant industry which had asked the government to allow for the serving of liquor with meals as part of its reopening<\/a> <\/strong>plans.<\/p>\n Government has also indicated that while a number of non-contact sports will be allowed to resume under the revised regulations, gyms and fitness centres will remain closed<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Speaking to MyBroadband<\/a><\/strong> earlier in June, Virgin Active said that government is yet to provide guidelines that it must follow, but it expects some level of restrictions or conditions imposed upon it.<\/p>\n \u201cUntil we have a date from the government and know what their requirements are, we are prepping for all possible scenarios,\u201d said Virgin Active.<\/p>\n If necessary, Virgin Active has prepared the capability to use a \u201cbook your slot\u201d system, which would require members to book their gym sessions in advance.<\/p>\n Planet Fitness said that it is also working on plans to reopen its facilities.<\/p>\n \u201cPlanet Fitness is working around the clock to adhere to government protocol around exercise and social distancing to ensure that when day one comes, we are ready to open and it will be safe to do so,\u201d Planet Fitness told MyBroadband.<\/p>\n The following are prohibited at Level 3 #Covid19inSA<\/a> #StaySafe<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/IhzssY0aDB<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 GCIS Media Liaison (@GCISMedia) June 17, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n