The initial hard level 5 and level 4 restrictions became a distant memory. When restaurants reopened under Level 3, meals could only be served in accordance with strict protocols: social distancing, temperature recording, name registering, hand sanitizing, and no alcohol served.

However, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in mid-August an easing of restrictions to open up more of the economy, and Level 2 became official on August 18.

Ketsekile and Ngoepe were among the first patrons at House of Ribs in Kempton Park outside Johannesburg to sink their teeth on their favorite food: a rack of ribs, chips and vegetables.

To make their stay at the restaurant longer and more enjoyable, the couple washed down their meal with alcoholic ciders.

According to them, Level 2 is the best thing that has happened and they are very happy to now be able to spend quality time in a restaurant, with lunch and drinks of their choice, while still observing virus protocols.

"For months, we would just sit at home, watching television and cook, unable to go and eat out, or drink any alcohol due to the lockdown," said Ketsekile, explaining that South Africa had an alcohol and cigarette ban for months up to Level 2 lockdown.

A happy restaurant manager Tobias Zuma and waiter Seliyana Musakanda were on hand to serve the patrons.

"Since the declaration by the president to Level 2, [patron] numbers have gone up. Now, they can enjoy their meal with wine, whisky, beer or cider - something that makes them stay longer and spend more money," smiled Zuma.

More impact on women

South Africa's decision to introduce lockdown was necessary, but had a negative impact, according to Ramaphosa.

The lockdown has achieved good results. While explaining the rationale behind slowly opening up the economy on August 15, Ramaphosa said the number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases has dropped from a peak of over 12,000 a day in mid- and late July to an average of around 5,000 a day in mid-August. The recovery rate from coronavirus has risen from 48 percent to 80 percent during the same period of time.

As of August 15, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa reached 583,653, with the number of active cases declining every day ever since. Trends show that the cases have peaked in several provinces, including Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and possibly in KwaZulu-Natal. "Fewer people are presenting with symptoms at our health facilities," stressed Ramaphosa.

With the advent of COVID-19 having led to 3 million job losses in South Africa, a recent survey has revealed that the country's gender-based disparities have seen women losing twice as many jobs as men during the lockdown period between February and April.

According to Fiona Leppan, Director of Employment Practice at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyer, a business law firm in South Africa, while many factors led to women being on the receiving end of the country's gender-skewed labor market practices, domestic responsibilities, the bulk of which tend to fall on women, were a factor.

Questioning whether South African employers were "sufficiently receptive to the additional burden of family responsibility" brought by the lockdown, Leppan said women were disadvantaged.

"What I'm noticing, when speaking to my clients, is that many employers are expecting their employees to carry on as normal - something that just isn't always possible," she said.

She noted with the extended closure of schools, families have suddenly had to balance childcare, home-schooling and jobs - a juggling act that has taken strain on many working parents.

"Despite the female labor-force participation having seen a great increase over the years, studies have shown that, globally, females still carry out roughly three times the amount of unpaid care and domestic work compared to males," said Leppan.

The domestic work ratio was likely to get "even further skewed with the increased prevalence of work-from-home practice," she said.

Voice of further opening

According to economist Mike Schussler, the South African Government should have opened the economy much sooner.

South Africa should open up its economy to get the people working, while practicing social distancing," said Schussler.

Schussler said every industry should be opened up, including tourism, gymnasiums, alcohol and cigarettes, that flights need to be back up in the air because the operational air freight business does not work without passenger flights.

"If you look at the manufacturing numbers that have just come out, you are talking about a sector that is 30 percent down in a quarter, which is quite huge. We need every ounce of energy and any possible thing that impedes us from growing should be done away with," he said.

On the evidence South Africa has seemingly turned the corner on the coronavirus; the situation going forward depends on its people adhering to health protocols.

(Reporting from South Africa)

(Print Edition Title: Turning the Corner)

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