Gauteng Health: Businesses must comply with level 1 regulations

This comes after Police Minister Bheki Cele joined officers and the Johannesburg metro police in a bust at Sandton club 'Blackdoor'. 

The club contravened several sections of the Disaster Management Act.

Cele said the club was packed beyond capacity, practised no social distancing and no patrons wore masks.

It was also open well beyond the midnight curfew.

"There were almost 300 people, no masks, no social distancing and breaking the law and it tells you that we won't survive the second wave if it is here. Besides breaking the lockdown law, people are breaking the real law and being here after curfew."

The Gauteng Department of Health has pleaded with businesses, in particular restaurants and clubs, to continue to follow all the regulations.

"These types of gatherings have proven to be super spreaders of the virus. The actions of these establishments undermine the efforts of government, civil society and others in the fight against Covid-19," said the department's Kwara Kekana. 

“We note the work done by our sister department and other law enforcement authorities in trying to enforce lockdown regulations. We are confident that this work will continue and that the law will take its cause against those who are not complying."

Metro police spokesperson  Xolani Fihla says the Blackdoor nightclub was not only breaking the Covid-19 regulations, but it had no liquor license.

"The establishment was registered as a restaurant but they were operating as a nightclub."  

Johannesburg Mayor Geoffrey Makhubo has lauded the metro police for clamping down on illegal activities. 

“The actions of the JMPD are without fear or favour. As a city we will not be deterred from acting against lawlessness because popular persons and influencers believe their entertainment establishments of choice are above the law.

“The JMPD is under strict instructions to act whenever and wherever there is a transgression, by persons or businesses, of the laws of our country and the by-laws applicable in the city."