Yesterday, 28 May 2020, the National Government published new regulations applicable to Level 3 of the national lockdown.

The new regulations now allow the public to exercise outdoors between 06:00 and 18:00. Unfortunately, according to these regulations parks, reserves, and beaches will remain closed.

As the Mayor of Cape Town, I have heard the calls from our residents to open these recreational areas to the public. Given the vastness of these spaces, it is easy for visitors to practice physical distancing while exercising in nature. As such, I am now escalating these calls to the National Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Section 39, Clauses (g) and (m) of the regulations state that all public reserves, beaches and public parks remain closed to the public.

We have seen reports in the media about how the South African Police Service (SAPS) have made wrongful arrests of a number of residents, across South Africa, during exercise hours at or near beaches.

I believe that opening these spaces would allow the SAPS officers to focus on important and urgent matters, and not be burdened by enforcing regulations that have been challenging to interpret for both SAPS officers and residents.

The vast majority of Capetonians have acted responsibly, they have observed the strict exercise hours, and they have been forced to make do with the limited spaces available due to parks, reserves and beaches not being open.

I have today written to Minister Dlamini-Zuma calling on her to please consider revising section 39 to allow for the opening of parks, beaches and reserves so that the public can exercise in nature, and practice social distancing, while observing the national lockdown.