On Saturday Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, announced that non-contact sports training will be able to resume under Level 3 starting 1 June.
Mthethwa said, “All professional bodies and clubs must develop guideline procedures for their staff contact tracing following a COVID-19 test. The bodies are also expected to ensure that athletes and support staff are subjected to quarantine, pending results. Only determined non-contact professional sport may resume matches after compliance with all provisions of these directions. Here, we are only dealing with professional sports because we have a chance and opportunity to monitor compliance,”
The relevant sports organisations have to provide guidelines on how operations will be conducted along with an affidavit to indicate that officials will be tested before matches and training resumes.
Spectators will not be allowed to join any events and media representatives will have to be screened before they access a venue. Venue management will be responsible for the cleaning and sanitising of their facilities and must have laundry facilities available.
No massages, physiotherapy, ice baths and sonars will be allowed, except for injured players.
Mthethwa says that all sporting bodies and clubs need to confirm, 14 days prior to the resumption of training, in writing that to their knowledge players have tested negative for Covid-19 and has not been in contact with anyone who has tested positive.
