SONA NEWS:

BLOW FOR FASHION DESIGNERS CALL TO ADDRESS VACCINE CRISIS

THIS year’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) will not be held with the usual red carpet glamour and several proceedings that have often accompanied the fanfare around the opening of Parliament.

The public had become accustomed to the fashion which could have preceded the address by President Cyril Ramaphosa in the evening.

No one has felt the impact of the changes to Sona proceedings more than those who worked for businesses that relied on the event.

Of particular note are the fashion designers who had to go without the usual stream of business when politicians and invited celebrities requested glamorous gowns, dresses and suits for the occasion.

Local designer Ephraim Molingoana, who owns Ephymol, is accustomed to dressing politicians and celebrities during such events and said business had been down, with no requests from clients.

“We have suffered a great deal. Covid-19 has changed a lot businesses; we have had to restructure our lives and build-up. We took a big knock and we do not have any support system from any government sector.

“Being a household brand we have big clients from the government and high-profile individuals who attend this type of ceremony and now we have nothing,” Molingoana said.

He said the only manner in which his business had survived was through reliant clients who continued to order clothes.

“Now we have no clients at all. Fortunately we still have our loyal clients here and there. We have had to reimagine a new look of dressing.”

Another local designer Hangwani Nenghovela, from Rubicon, said she was also used to providing designer wear for clients who attend the Sona.

She said although it was a different environment, her business had been able to survive during the pandemic because of the restructuring she made.

“We have gone the commercial route. We are an all-rounder and we do not work for seasons and it depends on the designers’ strategy. It (business) has been impacted but we found other ways of being creative.”

Another sector due to be affected a lack of foot-track in Cape Town is the restaurant industry.

Wendy Alberts, from the Restaurants Association of SA, said the sector had been heavily affected by the pandemic in general, but a decline in the usual numbers for events such as Sona was noticeable.

“We need to look at ways to uplift those tourism belts that bring domestic tourism and critical key areas in domestic tourism is to have establishments/restaurants that people can come and enjoy a particular experience. Long Street (in Cape Town) is an important part of tourism and with it most restaurants are closing down,” said Alberts.

The City of Cape Town said it did not usually track the impact of events such as Sona and whether a decline in people attending would affect the city’s revenue.

Cape Town Tourism chief executive Enver Duminy said establishments like hotels would be affected by a lack of people attending Sona.

“Accommodation establishments that would usually house Sona attendees will not benefit from that this year, and restaurants who often host attendees won’t be getting that business either.

“Covid-19 has not only dealt a massive blow to leisure tourism, but also to business tourism and the economic benefits of being a city that hosts many events including Sona,” Duminy said.

The City said because many of the ceremonial aspects of Sona will be downscaled, there were no usual rehearsals and road closures were limited.

This year’s ceremony will cost about R2.2 million. The sitting will be a hybrid joint-sitting, with no more than 50 MPS allowed inside the chambers.