Mayor Dan Plato welcomes easing of restrictions to adjusted Alert Level 3 

26 July 2021

“We note the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa to move the country to adjusted Alert Level 3, which is a much-needed adjustment to the regulations, as many businesses have been under severe strain, trying to adapt and survive in these very challenging circumstances. Another positive development is that the vaccination campaign will be expanded to include people between the ages of 18-34 from 1 September. We have maintained that the only way to move beyond the pandemic and the national lockdown is to greatly expand the vaccination rollout.  In Cape Town, we are continuing to play our part to assist with the ramping up of the national vaccine rollout after the opening of the CTICC mass vaccination site, which is a partnership between the City of Cape Town, Western Cape government, and healthcare group Discovery,' said Executive Mayor Plato.

The CTICC mass vaccination site will ramp up and vaccinate 4 000 people daily until December this year. 

President Ramaphosa noted the lockdown measures have largely assisted in bringing down new infections, with a decrease of 20 percent to roughly 12 000 new cases per day, countrywide. New cases of infection are being driven by the Delta variant and the public needs to remain extremely vigilant as vaccinations continue. 

‘We note the intention of national government to have the majority of its population vaccinated by the end of the year. Our residents deserve to see the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. Other spheres of government, such as local and provincial government, remain committed to supporting the expedited rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine to our residents,' said Mayor Plato.

Some 6,3 million vaccine doses have now been administered and the country has about 10 percent of the population vaccinated. The daily vaccination rate has increased to 240 000. 

Registration for vaccinations for the 35-49 age group opened on Thursday, 15 July and an appeal is made to all those within that category to continue to come forward to ensure as many as possible are vaccinated. 

It is noted that interventions were announced, including the reinstatement until March 2022, of the R350 monthly social relief of disaster grant, to support those affected financially. 

The City of Cape Town urges all residents to please continue adhering to the regulations. 

The amended regulations under level 3 include:

While curfew remains the same, between 22:00 until 04:00 daily, these are the revised regulations:

- Inter-provincial travel for leisure purposes may resume 

- Non-essential establishments may reopen, but must close at 21:00

- Gatherings can occur but limited to 50 people, or fifty percent of capacity in a smaller venue 

- Restaurants remain open with a maximum of 50 patrons; smaller venues can only have 50 percent of their capacity

- Alcohol sales resume as per license conditions, until 20:00 during weekdays.

- The sale of alcohol from retail outlets for off-site consumption will be permitted between 10am and 6pm from Monday to Thursday.

- Public spaces such as beaches will remain open

- Wearing a mask in public spaces remains compulsory under national lockdown regulations 

Issued by Greg Wagner, Spokesperson to the Executive Mayor, 26 July 2021