Andrew Stegmann
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Here Are the Updated Lock-down Rules for Hotels, Airbnbs, and Restaurants in South Africa

Tourism minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has outlined the new travel and accommodation rules for South Africa under the new level 2 lockdown.

Kubayi-Ngubane said that the lockdown has decimated the tourism industry with a number of companies closing permanently or introducing mass retrenchments.

The minister said that her department has developed further regulations alongside the move to a level 2 lockdown to provide further clarity in a number of areas. She further outlined the new changes below.

Accommodation

Kubayi-Ngubane said that the regulations announced around the country’s level 3 lockdown will largely remain in place.

The exception are the eased rules around inter-provincial travel for leisure purposes, with all accommodation facilities allowed to accept visitors from outside of their province.

In addition, breakfast and reception areas at accommodation venues must ensure less than a 50% occupancy of floor space.

The level 3 lockdown rules published at the end of June provide that accommodation facilities will be allowed to open for leisure purposes.

However, no more than two people may share a room, with the exceptions of a ‘nuclear family’. The directive states that this includes family members or caregivers living in the same household.

Kubayi-Ngubane confirmed that attractions and theme parks will also be allowed to open under level 2, provided health and safety guidelines are followed.

In terms of Airbnbs, the minister said that all accommodation is open, and it is up to the host of a home-sharing venue to ensure that they are compliant with the sanitation and social distancing regulations.

Restaurants

Kubayi-Ngubane also confirmed that the level 3 requirements will remain in place for the country’s restaurants.

The obvious exception is the reintroduction of alcohol sales for on-site consumption during curfew hours (until 22h00).

Kubayi-Ngubane said that this curfew restriction extends to all establishments – including hotel bars – and that no alcohol may be sold to anyone after 22h00.

The minister also clarified misconceptions around limits on the number of people allowed in restaurants. She said that there is no directive on specific numbers – the emphasis is on space and capacity.

This means that space between tables needs to be in line with social distancing rules, and the number of people allowed in should be relative to a restaurant’s capacity with these limitations in place, she said.

Different restaurants have different capacities and carry different space, so a single number wouldn’t make sense. The limit of 50 people applies only to gatherings, such as weddings and conferences and events, etc.

The level 3 lockdown rules published at the end of June provide the rules that restaurants will have to adhere to as follows:

  • Restaurants, fast food outlets and coffee shops must keep a daily record of the full names, ID number or passport number, nationality, nature of position (i.e. temporary, casual or permanent), residential address, and cell phone numbers of all employees and delivery persons;
  • Ensure that every employee and delivery person is screened on arrival for shifts and on departing after shifts;
  • Provide employees with masks to wear and hand sanitiser;
  • Ensure that an area is demarcated for the collection of orders for delivery that is separate from the place where food is prepared;
  • Ensure that a contactless pickup zone for customers whose orders are ready to be collected is designated;
  • Sit-down restaurants must conduct a screening questionnaire and take precautionary measures to protect the person and other persons on the premises. Such measures may include denying such a person access to the premises;
  • Ensure that customers or guests wear masks at all times while they are on their premises except when eating or drinking;
  • Ensure that customers or guests queue at least one and a half meters apart behind each other or sideways;
  • Remove excess chairs /stools and tables or tables combined to enlarge the floor space while reducing and spreading seat capacity to enforce distancing of one and a half meters between guests or customers;
  • Consider a reservation system to manage demand, and help ensure that capacity limits are adhered to;
  • No buffets may be offered to guests for self -service;
  • Food may only be plated and/or provided in covered single portions;
  • Guests may pickup pre-portioned items and any other buffet service should be handled by food service employees only from behind Perspex or similar protective shields;
  • Menus must be replaced with non -touch options or sanitised after each guest use;
  • Where possible and for instance while taking orders, waiting staff must stand at least a meter from tables;
  • Where possible, tablecloths should be removed from tables. Only essential items such as salt and pepper, should remain on tables and be sanitised after each guest;
  • Remove excess chairs /stools and tables or tables combined to enlarge the floor space while reducing and spreading seat capacity to enforce distancing of one and a half meters between guests or customers;
  • Items on waiting stations must be minimised;
  • Clearing and cleaning systems with designated containers for different items and sealable refuse containers for food waste must be implemented and used.

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann
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South Africa to Welcome First WHO Member to Help in Fight Against COVID-19

South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize will be joined by the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Tedros Ghebreyesus in welcoming the organisation’s first member who will be helping South Africa with its fight against COVID-19.

A team of more than 40 international health experts assembled by the WHO are due to start working in south Africa soon where they’ll be guiding government and professionals through the pandemic.

South Africa is ranked fifth on the international list of countries with the highest coronavirus infection rates. South Africa has about 70,000 more confirmed COVID-19 cases than Mexico or Peru -whose infection rates continue to climb.

Last month, when Minister Mkhize made the announcement, he promised that this team of experts assembled by the world health organization would add tremendous value to support South Africa. Although the daily new infection rate has slowed down in large provinces like Gauteng, the Western Cape, and Eastern Cape, there are concerns about a second wave.

Chairperson of the ministerial advisory committee on COVID-19, Professor Salim Abdool Karim has warned this pandemic is one of many more that could plague the world and now is a time to come up with international modules to stop future viruses. “We can’t say this was a complete surprise. We just didn’t know when and how severe. This is not the last, we as a global community has to have the global mechanism to stand together to make sure we are better prepared next time.”

Those who have already touched down here in South Africa arrived a few days ago for quarantine purposes and will now be officially welcomed during an online ceremony.

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann
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Snow Has Fallen in Parts of South Africa

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) had predicted “disruptive snowfalls” over the high-lying grounds of the Cape Winelands, Central Karoo and Garden Route Districts of the Western Cape as well as Karoo Hoogland in the Northern Cape. Parts of the Eastern Cape and Lesotho have also been transformed into white winter wonderlands.

Videos uploaded by ReenvalSA show snow on the Swartberge mountain range in the Western Cape of South Africa, and for the first time in nine years on the Rooiberge at Opsoek (between Calitzdorp and Ladismith).

For ski enthusiasts, Martin Schultz at Afriski Mountain Resort told SAPeople the resort received light rainfall recently. “Unfortunately it came with quite severe, heavy winds. The wind speeds are up to 70 or 80km/h at 3,000 metres elevation, so not much snow stuck to the ground during the snowfall. That being said, Afriski Mountain Resort received about 2 to 3cm in some areas” and the resort – which is situated in the heart of the Drakensberg-Maluti Mountains – expect the snow to last at least another day or two.

Due to the climate in South Africa, snowfall is not common, and many locals have been uploading images and videos of themselves enjoying the rare winter weather while it lasts. We’ve put some of them below for you to enjoy.

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].

Andrew Stegmann
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Novavax Starts COVID-19 Vaccine Trial in South Africa

American vaccine development company Novavax says it has begun a Phase 2b clinical trial in South Africa to evaluate the efficacy of a Covid-19 vaccine candidate.

Dr Shabir Madhi, professor of Vaccinology at Wits University, will lead the clinical trial which is supported in part by a $15 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the company said in a statement on Monday (17 August).

“Because South Africa is experiencing a winter surge of Covid-19 disease, this important Phase 2b clinical trial has the potential to provide an early indication of efficacy, along with additional safety and immunogenicity data for NVX-CoV2373,” said Gregory M. Glenn, president of Research and Development at Novavax.

“We appreciate the continued support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and CEPI, and our strong ongoing collaboration with Wits University, all of whom are united with us in our commitment to produce and deliver a safe, effective vaccine across the globe.”

Novavax said that the trial will consist of two cohorts.  The first cohort will evaluate efficacy, safety and immunogenicity in approximately 2,665 healthy adults.

The second cohort will evaluate safety and immunogenicity in approximately 240 medically stable, HIV-positive adults. This allows for evaluation of the vaccine across a diverse, representative study population, it said.

Novavax expects that, if approved in South Africa, its Covid-19 vaccine will ultimately be supplied to in the country through a recently announced collaboration with the Serum Institute of India.

“The major motivation for the Covid-19 vaccines being evaluated at an early stage in South Africa is to generate evidence in the African context on how well these vaccines work in settings such as our own,” said Madhi.

“I am pleased to work with Novavax as the principal investigator in this clinical trial, following Novavax’ Covid-19 vaccine’s positive Phase 1 data, which provides strong rationale for moving development forward in a larger subset of adults.”

For information as to how Relocation Africa can help you with your Mobility, Immigration, Research, Remuneration, and Expat Tax needs, email info@relocationafrica.com, or call us on +27 21 763 4240.

Sources: [1], [2]. Image sources: [1], [2].