In a speech starting punctually at 19h00 this evening, President Ramaphosa announced that the country as a whole will step down to Level 3 from 1 June, with concessions made for unrestricted exercise, allowing the sale of alcohol for home consumption under strict conditions, lifting of the curfew, the collection as well as delivery of Restaurant meals, and the opening up of the economy. Tobacco Products remain banned for sale. Continue reading →
Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition Ebrahim Patel announced the business categories which are allowed to reopen their businesses from 1 May this morning. The most exciting announcement, contrary to the timing projections circulating prior to today, is the permission to allow food delivery from restaurants. Buying local was encouraged by Minister Patel. A curfew will be introduced, from 20h00 to 5h00 daily.
One of the shock decisions by the Government during the State of Disaster during the Corona Virus Lockdown has been to make it illegal to export South African wines, and to transport wines from wine estates to the ports, just nine days after exports were allowed, and despite the export of fresh fruit and other agricultural products being allowed. The export wine ban means a loss of R200 million per week to the wine industry, says industry body VinPro. Continue reading →
What a good news message from the City of Cape Town yesterday, in its weekly Water feedback to its residents and to businesses. Cape Town Deputy Mayor Ian Neilson announced that it is the reduced usage by the agricultural sector that is allowing the positive water supply projection, extending Day Zero by almost a month, from 16 April to 11 May. An article I found on Facebook provides additional good news to the water projection, it not being clear if this has been factored into the latest Day Zero calculation. Punitive water tariffs since 1 February may also slowly be starting to show their effect. Continue reading →