ZCC Bishop Dr BE Lekganyane announced on Thursday that their churches will remain closed until further notice. In a statement released to the public on Thursday, Lekganyane said it is not yet safe to resume services at ZCC churches. The directive will impact all churches, even outside the country.

This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that religious gatherings under strict regulations would be allowed when the country enters Level 3 on Monday. Churches, temples, mosques, synagogues, and other recognised places of worship will be allowed to resume services with a maximum amount of 50 people or less depending on the space available from 1 June.

Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma confirms how to buy alcohol at Level 3

There have been a lot of whispers and rumours with regards to the lifting of the alcohol ban at Level 3, and Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has made a comprehensive announcement on the sales of booze. The COGTA minister essentially left with the ‘last word’ on how Level 3 regulations would work, has previously been accused of being skeptical about putting ale back on the shelves altogether.

Here are all the directives Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has shared, explaining when – and where – we can purchase our liquor from.

• Home consumption allowed only
• This means bottle stores, supermarkets and liquor traders can sell alcohol over the counter
• Bars and tavern remain banned
• The sale of alcohol will be allowed for four days a week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
• The stores selling booze will be allowed to operate from 9:00 – 17:00
• Drinking on the premises is banned, and no ‘special events’ will be granted one-off liquor licenses.

The plans are a step forward, but there’s still a long way to go before drinkers can return to the ‘old normal’. Booze will be on sale at 9:00 on Monday 1 June, and will continue through Level 3 and beyond.