WATCH: Beaches to remain closed under lockdown level 3

North Coast residents will be disappointed to hear that beaches will remain closed under level three lockdown regulations.

Hopes were high that beaches would be opened for exercise purposes as proposed in draft regulations leaked last week.

However, Minister of Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Nokosazana Dlamini-Zuma said today that beaches and other public amenities such as parks, sports grounds, fields and swimming pools would also remain closed – except for the training of professional athletes and professional non-contact sports matches.

KwaDukuza municipality lifeguard superintendent, Bongani Xulu confirmed that the popular Ballito promenade will remain closed.

“As for water-related sports, we still have the minister of sport’s speech to look forward to,” said Xulu.

The sports minister is due to address the media on Saturday.

In addition to beaches, also to remain closed are any place or premises normally open to the public where cultural, sporting, entertainment, leisure, exhibitional, organisational or similar activities may take place.

These include:

• Theatres
• Cinemas
• Museums
• Any on-consumption areas such as bars, shebeens and taverns
• Hotels, lodges, bed and breakfasts, timeshare facilities and resorts and guest houses, except to the extent that these facilities are required for accommodation by (i) the remaining tourists confined to such facilities; (ii) persons for work purposes; and (iii) persons in quarantine or isolation
• Private and public game reserves
• Gyms and fitness centres
• Sports grounds, fields and swimming pools – except for the training of professional athletes and professional non-contact sports matches
• Fetes and bazaars
• Night clubs
• Casinos
• Beaches and public parks – tourist attractions must remain closed except for private self-drive excursion activities.

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