Hospitality industry facing severe hardship
In an open letter from the National Employers Association of South Africa (Neasa), CEO Gerhard Papenfus wrote that although the hospitality industry in SA was experiencing adversity, South Africans could help alleviate the problem by buying local.
The Eastern Cape coast is one of the country’s prime holiday destinations and, due to Covid-19 restrictions, has suffered greatly.
“Although the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown regulations have caused widespread havoc and economic hardship in many sectors of the economy, the gradual easing of the regulations by government has allowed most of the sectors to reopen and return to a semblance of normality,” Papenfus wrote.
He noted that the hospitality industry was still suffering the brunt of the lockdown regulations, as they were still subjected to a limitation on the number of patrons allowed on their premises and the controversial ban on the sale of alcohol.
The curfew also contributes to discouraging many patrons from visiting these establishments for a meal.
“Consequently, many restaurants are looking down the proverbial barrel of a gun,” Papenfus said.
“The hospitality sector is a major contributor to the South African economy and provides employment to close to half a million employees.
“The future of this sector and its employees is in serious jeopardy.”
Papenfus therefore called on all South Africans to support their local restaurants in this time of crisis.
“If it is at all within your means, go out for a meal, have a cup of coffee, invite friends and colleagues, even spend more than what you would normally do and tip generously. Let us take it upon ourselves to keep our local restaurants open.
”Let us do that for them, and not only for them but also for ourselves, so that when this crisis has passed, this sector will still exist for all of us to enjoy,” he suggests. “We are all in this together.”