Restaurant staff take a stand against government regulations
Taking a tour around Roodepoort, many of the dining venues of the area were carrying on with business as usual.
Whether a quiet romantic evening for two or a raucous dinner with friends, the restaurant experience is something to savour. Each establishment has its own character and charm which quite often boils down to the quality of its staff.
Taking a tour around Roodepoort, many of the dining venues of the area were carrying on with business as usual. The restaurant industry had initially declared their intention to stage an afternoon demonstration on Wednesday 22 July, but police were not willing to entertain the hard-working members of the multi-billion rand industry.
In a letter sent to the lawyers representing the Restaurant Association of South Africa, signatory Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi gracefully declined their request. “We thank you for the timeous notification but must reiterate your intended peaceful demonstration is not protected under the Regulation of Gatherings Act 205 of 1993 and will be regarded as a prohibited gathering in terms of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 regulations, should restaurant employees gather for any other purpose than work,” read the concluding paragraph of the notice.
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Guided by the spirit of rebellion, or perhaps sheer desperation, one crew threw caution to the wind in an attempt to garner public support. The chefs, waiters and management of Founders Grill made their voices heard on the narrow centre island just before the Gordon Road and Ontdekkers Road intersection.
No tables were used to create barricades, no interruption was caused to passing traffic and absolutely no violence or destruction was anywhere in sight. While the situation facing the enthusiastic staff is grave, the staff kept smiles on their faces as they urged passing cars to hoot in support. All were carrying placards capturing the multiple reasons government needs to reconsider its hotly debated stance. Erin Hamilton, who joined the team as a waitress in December, summed up her position with her placard that read “Without tips, I have no income”.
Taking the prize for funniest placard was one held by Lawrence Mkhwanazi which took aim at the President, saying “We don’t like this flavour of Ramaphosa”. For five years, Josh Nettmann has been waiting tables and pulling pints at the legendary grill and bar. He was also part of the catering company supplying the establishment but that job too has vanished.
“This is to create awareness. We can’t live off R50 a shift,” he lamented.
Manager, Harald Salzwedel’s solution is crystal clear, simply put, “Just open the restaurants, man! This industry provides a platform for anyone willing to put in the hours.”From students to those supporting a family, every demographic is affected and serves as a microcosm of the destruction wrought by the government’s regulations.
