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The Department of Basic Education has given its approval that all sports at the school level may start with immediate effect. It is important that although it was authorised on 27 March 2021 it will only come into effect when published in the Government Gazette. Although everybody is excited the SARU return to play protocols needs to be adhered to until amended.
The following activities are permitted and may resume, without any spectators, subject to compliance with hygiene and safety measures to prevent and combat the spread of COVID-19, and with social distancing measures pertaining to gatherings, as contemplated in regulation 72(6) of the Regulations:
(a) School sport matches;
(b) physical education;
(c) extra-curricular activities; and
(d) inter-school, district, provincial and national school sport tournaments.”;
Championships, tournaments and inter-school matches for all sport that require learners to travel to other schools or provinces may resume without spectators provided that in the case of public schools the latter is subject to compliance with the Regulation for Safety Measures in Public Schools as published in Government Notice No. 1040 (GG No 22754 of 12 October 2001).
Provided that: the maximum number of participants at the venue at any one time must not exceed a maximum of 100 persons or less for indoor venues and 250 persons or less for outdoor venues and if the venue is too small to hold 100 persons indoors or 250 persons outdoors observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other, then not more than 50% of the capacity of the venue may be used.”.
However, several restrictions will still be in place. The following safety measures must be adhered to when resuming the activities contemplated in sub-direction
(a) The number of persons in the sporting venues, change rooms or training areas, at any given time, must not be more than 50% of the capacity of the venue with persons observing the social distancing requirements;
(b) face masks must be worn by all persons entering the sporting venues, change rooms or training areas, except when participating in training or matches;
(c) there must be sufficient quantities of hand sanitizers with at least 70% alcohol content available for use by all officials, coaches, assistants, learners and participants;
(d) there must be facilities for washing of hands with soap and water;
(e) all windows and doors must remain open, where feasible, to ensure adequate ventilation;
(f) social distancing must be maintained at all times;
(g) the sharing of water bottles, energy drinks and other drinks is not allowed.
(i) COVID-19 compliance officer must be appointed for each venue;
(j) there must only be one controlled entrance to the venue;
(k) all participants must undergo health and temperature screening before warm-up or event;
(l) any person who enters the venue must undergo the health and temperature screening;
(m) hand sanitisers must be available at the entrance gate and every person who enters the venue must sanitise their hands;
(n) participants and officials must sanitise their hands before and after a match or event;
(o) a person who leaves the venue temporarily and returns again, must undergo the process of health and temperature screening, and hand sanitising;
(p) for contact tracing purposes only, a register of all officials and learners from visiting and hosting schools who are attending a school match or event must be kept by the hosting school for at least 21 days and must contain the following information of officials and learners:
(i) Full names;
(ii) residential address;
(iii) cell phone number, telephone number or email address; and
(iv) contact details of the person or persons living in the same residence as the person attending training or a school match or event;
(q) a digital registration and health screening platform, such as the Teacher Connect Application, may also be used to assist with the administration of the registration process contemplated in paragraph
(r) if a person has COVID-19 symptoms or presents with a temperature above 38 degrees Celsius, that person must be refused access into the venue;
(s) the number of persons, including participants, referees, adjudicators, technical officials, volunteers, medical team, media or broadcasting team, and stadium workers, permitted at a venue at any one time is limited to—
(i) a maximum of 100 persons, for indoor venues; and
(ii) a maximum of 250 persons, for outdoor venues, and if the venue is too small to hold 100 persons indoors or 250 persons
outdoors, observing a distance of at least one and a half metres from each other, then not more than 50 percent of the capacity of the venue may be used, subject to strict adherence to all health protocols and social distancing measures.
(t) teams, technical officials, volunteers, relevant stadium staff, medical staff and registered members of the media or broadcaster team must leave the venue as soon as their responsibilities are completed;
(u) social distancing and the wearing of face masks must always be maintained by persons who are not participating in matches or events;
(v) participants must always wear face masks, except when participating in an event;
(w) technical officials must report before the start of any event or competition for a COVID-19 regulations and protocol briefing session and screening;
(x) all ablution facilities must be sanitised regularly and kept clean as per COVID-19 protocols;
(y) entry to the ablution area will be regulated to adhere to social distancing protocols; and
(z) all sport equipment must be sanitised before and after use.”;
