Dear Fellow Paddlers
We hope you are keeping well and safe in these difficult and strange times. Over the course of the last week, the Government has announced its Phased and Risk Based approach towards the current lockdown. As you will all be aware, the fine detail and precise implications of these are still being finalised, and there are a number of representations being made by various businesses, lobby groups as well as sporting bodies, which will be considered before the commencement (presumably) of Phase 4 next week.
Your Umbrella Body, the CSA has also made a submission to the Regulatory Authorities, to seek clarity and propose various allowances insofar as it pertains to our sport. As soon as there is a response to this, we will naturally brief you all.
It seems as if Gauteng could be placed into a Phase 4 environment – but as you know, this could change, and reversion to phase 5 (total lockdown) is also possible. Importantly, phase 4 contemplates being allowed to exercise, but the details thereof, specifically insofar as it would have application to paddling, are still awaited. As an example, it is not yet clear whether one can drive to a place of exercise, or whether one can only exercise from your homes (as has been observed in certain other countries).
What is clear, however, is that under all Phases of Lockdown, there will still be tight restrictions on gatherings (at this stage it is contemplated that there may not be more than 10 people together), that social distancing will be required, and that no organised sporting events can take place. Therefore, while the Lockdown persists, or until advised otherwise, Dabulamanzi Canoe Club has no option but to remain closed, and there will be no formal or informal events taking place.
Your Club cannot, and should not fulfil the role of policing or supervising activities on or near the Dam. Should paddling activities be allowed to recommence, we would appeal to you all to try to avoid congestion on the water, and in the car parks and on the lawn area. Please do not gather for “informal” time trails or group training sessions. Practise distancing on the water, and abide by all other regulatory requirements which may be required – if these are known to the Club, we will publicise them.
What we can’t afford, if we are allowed to start paddling, is for a perception to be created that we are not responsibly abiding to requirements. This could easily result in the limited concessions for these paddling activities again being revoked. We thus appeal for all members to act with the interests of the Club, your fellow members, and the community in mind.
As there will be some time before we can have another function at the Club, it is suggested that the Dabblers use this period productively to work on their new routine, in order to welcome us all back with a Bash!
Please be safe, we will get through this, although it will take a while…
