Plett restaurants plead for action
The Plettenberg Bay restaurant industry joined the nationwide peaceful protest action last Wednesday in solidarity with the hospitality, restaurant and wine industries against the government's lockdown regulations. The regulations have had a devastating effect on these sectors over the more than 100-day lockdown period. Some of the regulations include a ban on the sale of alcohol and a 21:00 curfew, which have forced establishments to reduce operating times.
The protest on Wednesday 22 July, dubbed "Million Seats on the Streets", highlighted the plight of about 800 0000 employees whose jobs are hanging in the balance.
It was a call by the Restaurant Association of South Africa (Rasa) and saw many restaurants across South Africa participate. In Plettenberg Bay, restaurants set up tables and chairs on the sidewalk and on the side of the road while employees were seen holding placards illustrating the devastation on employment in the sector. Some placards showed the number of jobs that had already been affected by the regulations.
"They stood in solidarity against the regulations that prevent them from serving alcohol to diners and limiting the amount of time diners have due to curfew restrictions," said Plett Tourism spokesperson Patty Butterworth.
In a recent interview, Rasa chief executive Wendy Alberts said the protest was presenting a united front for the government to "take us more seriously", and that they hoped it would capture the attention of President Cyril Ramaphosa. On Sunday, Rasa's legal representatives confirmed that the presidency had acknowledged receipt of their memorandum.
Alberts also noted that their proposal to lift the ban on alcohol would be discussed by the National Coronavirus Command Council.
The tourism industry will be hardest hit by Covid-19. A report released by the Provincial Department of Economic Development and Tourism says other sectors taking severe strain include the construction, manufacturing and trade sectors.
Garden Route District Council was informed of the department's impact review report during a virtual meeting on Monday. According to the report, travel bans and social distancing have a stranglehold on the industry and will have long-term negative effects. "People are likely to also remain cautious in the months to come, which could see this sector make a slower recovery than others," reads the report.
About 60%, or 10 122, of tourism employees in the Garden Route District are estimated to lose their jobs within the first year after the implementation of lockdown. Statistics from 2019 indicate that the tourism sector employs 8,8% of the Garden Route District workforce.
Severe impact
The construction industry has also taken a heavy blow, due to the industry being placed on ice in the initial lockdown period. "Demand for construction activities is also likely to decline when Covidrelated stimulus and reduced government revenues will lead to lessened spending on infrastructure going forward," reads the report.
The Garden Route District's construction sector is projected to take a 40,7% (R1,913billion) dip in the 12 months after the lockdown period. The report reads: "Manufacturing's contribution to the Garden Route economy is significant at 15,2% in 2019. The lockdown restrictions have however had a negative impact on 872 manufacturing operations largely due to the supply chain bottlenecks, reduced demand for industrial products locally and internationally, and because manufacturing jobs are generally on-site and cannot be carried out remotely."
The trade sector (wholesale and retail trade, catering and accommodation) contributed 16,4% of the district's economy in 2019. The fact that non-essential retailers had to close down during the hard lockdown had a severe impact on the sector. Catering and accommodation businesses were also severely impacted. The Garden Route Economy Cluster is working towards a recovery plan to combat the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the district's economiy across all sectors.