South African sport under Lockdown Level 3
The COVID-19 Pandemic has caused significant disruption to the sporting sector.
The government had to consider whether particular sectors of the economy should be permitted to re-open and on what basis. These include the risk of transmission while considering the ease of implementing mitigation measures, the expected impact on the sector of continued lockdown, and the value of the sector to the economy.
On 11 June 2020, details of the Directions for Sport, Arts, and Culture under the Disaster Management Act No. 57 of 2002 were gazetted. The published Directions focused primarily on sectoral implications in relation to the Government Level 3 Risk adjustment strategy to be employed in preventing and combating the spread of COVID- 19.
The Directions require that sports bodies must comply with the following before the resumption of either training or matches for contact and non – contact sport:
Sports bodies must apply in writing to Minister informing him on the date of the resumption of playing and training, included in their plan all compliance matters as outlined in the Directions.
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Sports bodies in their plan submitted to Minister must take into account the following: –
• The testing of athletes;
• Waiting period of the results;
• Cleaning and disinfection of the sporting venues;
• Appointment of a compliance officer;
• Preparation of the register;
• Procurement of the screening equipment;
• Development of transportation plan;
• Procurement of sanitisers and mask;
• Planning around the issue of catering;
• Development of training methodology;
• Names and sporting venues to be utilised;
• Any alternative venue whereby the previous venues or area have been declared a hotspot; and
• Identification of isolation area;
The plans of the Premier Soccer League have been approved, considering the mitigation strategies and plans in relation to the Level 3 risk-adjusted strategy in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. The plans have further been subject to analysis by Health authorities, the NICD (National Institute of Communicable Diseases) who have recommended that the measures put in place by the organisation meet and in some instances exceed the required protocol for a safe return to training and to play in a Biologically Safe Environment.
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