Home | News | ONLY 2-3HRS ALLOWED FOR CROSSOVER EVENTS

ONLY 2-3HRS ALLOWED FOR CROSSOVER EVENTS

30/12/2021 08:44:00 BY SETSABILE NKAMBULE

Font size:

MBABANE – “Crossover events are allowed but only for two to three hours.”

This was confirmed by Deputy Government Spokesperson, Thabile Mdluli, in an interview with the publication yesterday. According to Mdluli, the reason government took the decision was to curb the spread of COVID-19. She said the regulations were not meant to frustrate people, but rather to contain an escalating health situation which required the public to be responsible. “The regulations are very clear on how we should gather. For example, under Adjusted Risk Level One, religious gatherings should not exceed three hours. What this means is that people can have church services but not all night services, as long as they adhere to COVID-19 precautions.

Likewise, in terms of the regulations, entertainment events should be outdoors and for not more than 500 people, for a period not exceeding two and a half hours. What is important is for people to adhere to COVID-19 regulations and to always remember that we are currently in the middle of the fourth wave of the pandemic,” she said.

Compliance

Mdluli requested that, activities taking place on New Year’s Eve, should be done in full compliance with COVID-19 regulations as stipulated under Adjusted Risk Level One. She advised people not to be in the wrong side of the law but rather enjoy their events while following the law. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati advised the public to enjoy their New Year’s Eve celebrations while following the rules and regulations placed by government. She stated that the public would only have 30 minutes after midnight to set off fireworks.

“We will be vigilant in ensuring that people follow the regulations. We do want people to enjoy and welcome the new year with great energies but with that said, their way of celebrating should not break any law or inconvenience anyone .We will be monitoring if everyone is adhering to the rules and anyone found breaking the law will be taken into custody,” she said. She extended well wishes for the new year, to the public. “We wish for the new year to bring better health, stability and prosperity to everyone. May the Lord shower everyone with blessings as we enter into the new year,” she said. There were mixed reactions to Mdluli’s statement.

While some pastors were excited about government’s decision, other people expressed that the time stipulated was short and needed to be reviewed. In an interview with this publication, some pastors expressed that it was good news for them as the sermons they hosted on New Year’s Eve were their way of setting their mood for the new year. They said they believed that in order for them to have a good year, they had to join together with other Christians in prayer.
According to Pastor Themba Ngozo, from Ngogodla Alliance Church, the decision made by government was exciting to them as they had been worried that they would not celebrate New year’s Eve in ways they were used to. He said it would have been hard for them to change a tradition which they had been doing for many years.

“We promise to adhere to the regulations and time put in place for us. This is because we, as Christians, need these services as they are our fuel for the coming year. It is pivotal to have these prayers as the year 2021 was not a good one for a lot of us and as a result we need to gather and pray that 2022 be good to us,” he said.

Excitement

Pastor Jan Dube from the Walk by Faith Church concurred with Ngozo. He expressed his excitement with the decision. He said it was important for Christians to gather and pray at that time of the year to set a good tone for the following year. Dube mentioned that the gatherings were also important in order to pray for the country and its economy. “This year has been proof that we need God’s protection and guidance. We need to ask God for protection and for him to help the country go back to its normal state. This is a Christian country, which means that we are aware of the need for God’s intervention. Allowing us to host these sermons will help us with all that,” he said.

Pastor Sipho Nkambule extended his appreciation to government for not destroying a tradition which, according to him, was placed by Christians in order for them to have a great entry to the following year. “We have families that we need to ask God to protect. It is not that we do not pray at home, but gathering on New Year’s Eve has been a tradition for us as Christians,” he said. Some event organisers who opted to remain anonymous stated that adhering to that decision was impossible for them as two hours was very little time. They said this was government’s way of intentionally spoiling people’s nights. “This is a joke. Who would take their time to pay artists, call people to attend a show which will only last two hours. It will be really interesting to see how all this will unfold,” they said.