South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday said a controversial ban on the sale of alcohol would be lifted for home consumption when the country moves into level three of a five-tier coronavirus lockdown next month.

The South African government banned the sale of tobacco and alcohol as part of a broad lockdown, in addition, the regulations banned jogging and dog walking, and shuttered parks.

The way sometimes tobacco “is shared does not allow for social distancing,” she added, but actually “encourages the spread of the virus”

Gradual easing of lockdown

South Africa started gradually easing confinement measures on May 1, allowing citizens to exercise outdoors in the morning and some businesses to partially resume operations.

South Africa went into lockdown at the start of its coronavirus outbreak to delay an expected peak in infections and allow hospitals to prepare.

The lockdown would only delay the spread of coronavirus but it would not be able to stop it, said the president, adding that one-third of the country’s cumulative cases had been recorded over the past week alone.