Disaster Management Act Regulations amended

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Announcement

Topics Constitutional Law & Civil Rights | Covid-19/Coronavirus

28 Dec 2020

Disaster Management Act Regulations have been amended.

The cooperative governance department published the amended Regulations in Government Gazette 43997.

A definition on “festive season” is inserted specifying that the festive season runs between 16 December 2020 and 3 January 2021.

District municipalities are also expected to alert communities within that district of the increasing number of infections that could lead to that district being declared a hotspot; publish on their websites and in the local media, areas with high infection rates within the district and update the information when necessary.

New curfew hours of 23H00 until 04H00 daily are set down.

Establishments such as faith-based institutions; cinemas; theatres; casinos; museums, galleries and archives; restaurants, bars, taverns, shebeens and similar establishments and venues hosting sport, arts and culture activities must now close at 22H00 daily.

A new Regulation 67 on mandatory protocols when in a public place is inserted.

Masks are mandatory for every person when in a public space except for those undertaking vigorous exercise.

New regulations on attendance of funerals, gatherings, initiation practices, sale and dispensing of liquor and operation of economic sector are inserted.

Amendments are also introduced to Chapter 7 dealing with hotspots.

New regulations on movement of persons, gatherings, prohibition of initiation practices and sale and dispensing of liquor are inserted.

The curfew in hotspots applies from 22H00 until 04H00 daily; closing time for establishments is 21H00 daily; beaches in the Eastern Cape province and Garden Route District to be closed to the public from 16 December 2020 until 03 January 2021; beaches in the KwaZulu-Natal province to be closed to the public on 16, 25, 26 and 31 December 2020 and 1, 2 and 3 January 2021; beaches in the Northern Cape and the Western Cape provinces (excluding the Garden Route District beaches) to be open to the public; public parks in the Eastern Cape province to be closed from 16 December 2020 until 3 January 2021; public parks in the KwaZulu-Natal province to be closed to the public only on 16, 25, 26 and 31 December 2020 and 1, 2 and 3 January 2021; public parks in the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces to be open to the public; initiation practices are prohibited in all provinces except the Eastern Cape, excluding Nelson Mandela Bay, with effect from 17 December 2020 and sale of liquor by a licensed premises for off-site consumption is only permitted from 10H00 to 18H00, from Mondays to Thursdays, excluding Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Failure to comply with the regulations can lead to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.