Fourth alcohol ban ‘unnecessary’ – eateries association
"We have suffered many months over the past year when our members could not earn a living."
The Restaurant Association of South Africa believes the fourth alcohol ban was unnecessary.
On Sunday evening, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced level 4 lockdown following a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases in the country.
Under level 4 restrictions, the sale of alcohol for both onsite and offsite consumption is prohibited.
Restaurant Association of South Africa CEO Wendy Alberts said although taking the country to level 4 was a tough decision to make for the government, it was not necessary.
“We as the restaurant industry have been affected the most since the whole lockdown started. We haven’t really recovered from the last time and then this happens.
“There is no plan for relief for our industry and if this continues, millions will lose their jobs,” she said.
Alberts said that a letter was written to the president this week, to reconsider the ban and keep the industry alive.
“We have written a letter to President Cyrill Ramaphosa and we will do everything to try and get the industry opened as quickly as possible. I strongly believe that they will hear our pleas; we are South Africa’s most loved industry and as hard and stressful as what it is, you need to remain strong and positive so we can have our lights back on soon.”
Co-owner of a popular sports bar in the east of Pretoria, Allen Nyampa, said he was disappointed in the government’s decision to return to hard lockdown.
“Last year this time, I supported the president but now it’s different. We have lost so much and we can’t afford to suffer again because we might not come back after this,” he said.
“It’s a mess, we pay our staff on the last day of the month because business picks up around the 25th until the 9th of each month. The ban was unceremonious, reckless and selfish.”
Nyampa has a staff of about 50 people at Jack Fridays sports bar.
“These people have families and if we can’t operate, it means 50 families will be affected and this is just from my side. We are hit hard and there’s no relief or fund for us.”
Although level 4 was only placed for two weeks, Nyampa said it was highly unlikely that trading would return after the 14-day period.
In a statement, Lucky Ntimane from National Liquor Traders said the industry was on its knees.
“We have suffered several months over the past year, when our members could not earn a living.
“We have engaged with our members and government where we conveyed our concern regarding the decision to ban alcohol for 14 days, and again expressed our commitment to work together and observe the regulations,” he said.
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