South Africa embarked on a staged reopening of the economy, starting with level 4 to help slow down the spread of Covid-19 and to ensure that health authorities are not overwhelmed.

Citing reasons relating to health and the transmission of Covid-19, the Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma made this announcement on April 29, as she detailed the regulations which would apply from May 1 as the lockdown regulations are relaxed from level 5 to level 4.

“We still expect everyone to be at home. Like under level 5 regulations, you are allowed to go to the shops to buy essential goods, and those with permits may go to work. But, coming back from work is not the time to visit anyone. Between 20:00 and 05:00 you will need a permit to be away from home,” she said in reiterating the curfew that was announced over the weekend.”

Malls across the country were packed to the rafters with shoppers grabbing essential items such as food, winter clothes, heaters and other goods, while others paid their accounts and the two local malls were no exception.

Despite the government imploring the nation to abide by the softer regulations, many South Africans behaved as if the Coronavirus pandemic was not even a threat any more.

Government however, stipulated that wearing face masks and maintaining social distance was a prerequisite and even employers were urged to adhere to strict rules of hygiene and social distancing to ensure the safety of employees. Among those who resumed their duties, were retail workers at shops opening for the sale of winter clothes.

From long queues at entrances to people being barred from entering shops for not wearing masks, this s the new normal across SA’s retail stores and shopping centres.

When HERAUT visited Heidelberg Mall on May 4, it was abuzz with the amended regulations and shop owners were visibly doing their best to keep their stores clean and sanitised.

While there were few queues at clothing outlets, there was also a long wait to enter most food stores and butcheries.

Many shoppers expressed concern over social distancing not being adhered to, while others complained about the fact that hair and beauty salons are to remain closed until Level 2 of the lockdown.

One thing is certain – South Africans are braving the new way of navigating shopping aisles and are without a doubt taking advantage of government’s eased regulations.

Other regulations that will apply:
* Exercising – cycling and running is allowed but not in groups. Exercise allowed between 06:00 and 09:00 daily,
* No recreational visiting is allowed (no visiting friends/ family),
* All recreational facilities will remain closed,
* When schools open, learners will need permits when travelling,
* No movement between provinces except for exceptional circumstances such as funerals of direct family members. A once-off allowance to move between provinces for work, or if you were locked down away from home will be allowed, but otherwise, the same requirements regarding movement remain as per level 5,
* Companies must adhere to regulations in opening and implement Covid-19 readiness in the workplace as regulated. Failure to do so will result in forced closure,
* SA ports remain closed except for goods and repatriation of SA citizens and citizens of other countries,
* All agricultural products can move through SA ports for export, including wine and wool. Goods allowed for import will be listed under level 4,
* Public transport – taxis, e-hailing and private car regulations remain the same. Minister of Transport will issue directions on the increase in the availability of public transport to cater to industries returning to work,
* Fast food deliveries are allowed (but no sit-down or collection at restaurants/ establishments) between 09:00 and 19:00 to allow workers to get home before curfew,
* Correctional facilities, law enforcement facilities and public health facilities remain as under level 5,
* Alcohol sale/distribution is prohibited, including home-made alcohol,
* Selling of cigarettes and related products is prohibited under level 4,
* Manicure and hair products will be sold for home/private use but those industries cannot open,
* Winter clothes and products,
* ICT (information communications technology) products will be for sale,
* Postal and courier services will be permitted under level 4,
* Accommodation facilities allowed to operate for quarantine/isolation in terms of essential service operations,
* Financial and business sectors will reopen but preferably/mostly from home
* Live-in staff are permitted (movement between households not allowed)
* Recycling will be allowed (includes informal recyclers) – glass/metal/tyres etc,
* Social workers, counselling services, GBV support services etc allowed,
* Certain trade union staff permitted to operate,
* Children are allowed to be moved between homes,
* No one may be evicted from their residences. “Tenants should, however not take advantage of the situation by illegally occupying property,” the minister said.

This was simply a regulation since property and rental agents are not permitted to work.

According to Dlamini-Zuma, the non-sale of liquor has been valuable in curbing the spread of the virus. “Our hospitals’ casualty and trauma wards have been freed. Hospital workers can now focus on the sick instead of those who were assaulted. Members of police can focus on the work they should be doing, instead of chasing after those who drink and cause trouble,” she concluded.