The announcement on Sunday evening by President Cyril Ramaphosa of a step up to lockdown level 4 to be reviewed on 11 July ends a week of speculation for South Africans as we now find ourselves at the mercy of the Covid-19 third wave.
The timing of the announcement could have repercussions for owners of runners in the 125th renewal of the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July, already impacted on by the switch to level 3 just two weeks earlier.
While an industry insider told the Sporting Post that this implementation was not a ‘cut and paste’ of the same lockdown level 4 in 2020, it is unclear as to what the implications will be for racing – beyond owners being denied access, as was implemented by the RA and Phumelela from the Thursday 24 June racemeeting.
We have learnt from past experience that racing falls under the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
While the wheels of bureaucracy grind slowly, with five July runners based in Gauteng, there may be some urgency on the part of their connections to get them shipped to KZN earlier than may have been planned.
As business travel from Gauteng is permitted, trainers, jockeys and grooms are allowed to travel in the course of earning a living.
We have learnt that jockeys are likely to be forced to choose a domicile province from Sunday 4 July, with future movement subject to review on 11 July.
Ramaphosa said on Sunday that the additional restrictions will be in place for the next 14 days.
These include:
- All gatherings, indoors and outdoors were prohibited, he said. Public places like beaches and parks remain open, but no gatherings are permitted.
- Curfew will be in place from 21h00 to 04h00 and non-essential establishments will have to close at 20h00.
- The sale of alcohol – both for on-site and off-site consumption, is prohibited.
- He said that because the Delta variant was more contagious so the measures the country has has in place may no longer be sufficient to reduce the spread.
- All indoor and outdoor gatherings are prohibited. This includes religious and social gatherings;
- Funerals and cremations are permitted but attendance may not exceed 50 people;
- Night vigils and after-funeral gatherings are not allowed;
- Public spaces such as beaches and parks will remain open, but no gatherings are permitted;
- The new curfew times are 21h00 – 04h00;
- The sale of alcohol is prohibited;
- Travel in and out of Gauteng is prohibited for leisure purposes. People will be permitted to return home to the province if they are currently outside the borders;
- Visits to old age homes and care facilities will be restricted;
- Restaurants will only be able to sell food for takeaway and deliveries;
- The closure of schools for the winter holidays will be brought forward. Schools will close from (30 June) and all schools will be expected to be closed by Friday.
- All contact classes at universities and other tertiary facilities will stop on Wednesday.
Gold Circle’s Graeme Hawkins would not be drawn into speculation when contacted by the Sporting Post on Sunday afternoon – and admittedly it was prior to Ramaphosa’s family meeting.
Hawkins did confirm that the timing of the big race for a 15h00 start on Saturday was a reversion to the off-time in days of old.
“We generally found that 16h20 was the optimal gate time when we had 12 races and the crowds were on course and with the formalities between races the meeting went into the evening. Given the restrictions of the current time and the fact that we have a ten race programme, 15h00 makes sense,” he added.
The final race on July day is 16h45, which should allow time for all personnel to abide by the revised curfew of 21h00.
The National Horseracing Authority and the Vodacom Durban July organisers are expected to issue a statement on Monday.
