South Africans cheer and sing at alcohol shops

Long queues have formed outside shops selling alcohol in South Africa as restrictions on its sale are lifted for the first time in two months.

Social media posts showed people cheering and clapping as buyers emerged clutching their bottles.

Some people said they had queued overnight.

The BBC's Vumani Mkhize tweeted some photos from the main city, Johannesburg:

A healthy queue here at Liquour City on Jan Smuts. Customers are a bit shy to speak, but most are eager to get their hands on alcohol for the first time in over 2 months. pic.twitter.com/28bbRqyeyG

— Vumani Mkhize (@VumaniMkhize) June 1, 2020

Our reporter says people are banned from singing in churches, which are also reopening, but they were in full voice at one liquor store:

You can’t sing in church but you sure can outside the liquor store ???? https://t.co/n76TuxmzSS

— Vumani Mkhize (@VumaniMkhize) June 1, 2020

Alcohol-related violence is a big problem in South Africa - the ban was introduced to free up the police and hospitals to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Infection rates in South Africa still appear to be rising.

People are only allowed to buy alcohol for consumption at home and only from Monday to Thursday.