​Qaqambile Mdledle
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday, 28 February, announced that South Africa would bemoving to alert level one of the lockdown with effect from Sunday midnight.
This comes after the decrease in the number of new COVID-19 infections, with fewer than 10,000 new infections in the past week, compared to 40,000 in the last week of January.
"This dramatic decline of cases over 8 weeks is due to a combination of factors, including the public health measures we introduced, changes in behaviour, said the President.
Under alert level 1,curfew hours are now from 12 midnight to 4am , selling of alcohol will be permitted throughout the week except during curfew hours. 
Religious, social, political and cultural meetings will be allowed, provided that people can stay at least 1.5 metres away from each other, and that other health protocols are also adhered to. Indoor gatherings may not exceed 50% of the venue capacity, and may allow up to a maximum of 100 people. Outdoor gatherings may also not exceed 50% of the venue capacity.  
The five airports that are permitted  international travel are OR Tambo, Cape Town, King Shaka, Kruger Mpumalanga and Lanseria airports. 
The President has urged South Africans to continue adhering to the lockdown regulations, warning against the possible third wave.
"We will only be able to ultimately overcome the pandemic if we continue to practice all the other preventative  measures as well. We must do all this so that we defeat the pandemic and  accelerate our economic recovery," he said.
The start of South Africa's vaccination programme has gone extremely well, according to the President. All provinces have established vaccination sites and have put in place plans for the expansion of the programme as it increases. Over 67,000 healthcare workers have been vaccinated so far.