Alcohol was banned and borders were closed. But some have proven that you can't lock down love.
When the Covid-19 pandemic exposed the dire state of people across SA, Samara Stern knew her charity organisation Ladles of Love would need to ramp up its services.
Desmund Lundy, a tourism entrepreneur in the Kruger Park who had decided to spend lockdown with his family in Cape Town, started volunteering at Ladles of Love during the level 5 lockdown.
Stern and Lundy worked together for several months feeding the homeless and needy in more than 400 locations in Cape Town. Birthday drinks in August saw the two socialising outside of the charity.
"Since then we've been inseparable, it felt so organic. It's taken me 12 years and a pandemic to find my soulmate," Stern said.
There was no first date, no family interrogation meeting, just Zoom meetings and home dates. These soup kitchen soulmates have quarantined together and grieved over deaths together. They feel the pandemic has helped them drop their guard.
It's taken me 12 years and a pandemic to find my soulmate
"Nothing has been done by the book, Covid has really pushed us to stop and throw out all the rules. He's seen me at my worst; we're seven months in and I feel like I've known him for years. Covid presented an opportunity for two unlike-minded people to get together," Stern said.
The English Jewish dame and her Afrikaans Christian hunk are discussing marriage - but another lockdown couple has already decided to take the leap.
Canadian pilot Steve Leslie was in Cape Town on holiday when the border closed and he was stuck in SA. It was supposed to have been a short sabbatical after living and working in Dubai for 15 years. Having returned to Canada for three years after the death of his wife, Leslie felt he needed a break and settled on visiting SA.
PR and marketing guru Debby Reader went from attending lavish events to isolating on her balcony. After adhering to all lockdown regulations, Reader decided to host a few friends for a braai in July. Another friend invited Leslie, who was alone, and it was love at first sight.
"My daughter always said I'd never meet a man sitting on my balcony, I guess she was wrong. It's been a whirlwind romance ... he proposed last month, I said yes but then he said he wants to do it again when he has a ring," Reader said.
There could be a second proposal for Reader this Valentine's weekend.
Psychologist Khosi Jiyane said this kind of "you only live once" approach to love was normal given that the pandemic has brought mortality to the forefront.
She said it is human nature to adapt to circumstances, even when it comes to relationships.
For those with concerns about the soundness of these lockdown connections, Jiyane said time will be the true test.
"You will never know upfront if you can trust any connection. The connection is what brings you together. What keeps you together is what happens between the two of you, moment by moment. It may just be that the fact that they were forged under these very difficult circumstances perhaps becomes a bond that becomes a glue for these couples," Jiyane said. For these two couples the "Covid glue" seems stronger because not only have they been in quarantine together, they've also celebrated life and mourned together.
Jiyane said these are circumstances that could develop a stronger bond between them.
"There are symbolically significant moments that they share with each other. The mundaneness of life in some ways has been removed and the profundity of their connection becomes accentuated and that becomes a glue that holds them together going forward," Jiyane said.
Loved up but not looking at wedding gowns is a marketing strategist from Johannesburg who met her partner through a dating app.
The woman, who asked not to be identified, met her banker beau in April last year. After hours of late night chats they finally decided to go on a date. Their options were limited and the couple got creative.
"We actually went to a grocery store to buy essentials for our first date, with our masks and gloves. There we were falling in love in the milk aisle. We were together every day after that," she said.
When the lockdown levels were relaxed the couple made up for lost time and have since been on many dates. They have discussed their future plans but they're taking a more cautious approach.
"We've spoken about starting a family and I want it to work, but life has changed and I don't know what the future holds," she said.
Jiyane's warning to lockdown lovers is to recognise that this is the honeymoon phase of the relationship.
"It is new, there are lots of hormones floating around so it is an idyllic time in the relationship. But that, over time, will start to settle as other realities start to play out," Jiyane said.
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