Bittersweet opening for eateries during the violence
RESTAURANTS and businesses that were hoping to make up for lost time during the lockdowns have said they were unsettled by the #FreeJacobZuma protests.
Chief executive for the Restaurants Association of South Africa Wendy Alberts said many businesses that were hoping to reopen their doors had been left unsure as to how to proceed following the outbreak of riots across parts of Gauteng.
Alberts said the past two weeks of closure for restaurants were particularly difficult as many had already been going through a tough time from previous lockdowns and the intermittent banning of alcohol sales.
She said opting to open for some businesses was not an option as some were situated in volatile areas. “As it is, many of the restaurants had to close early on Monday because no one knows what exactly is going on… everyone is fearful.
“We urge everyone to stand together and to stop destroying our country.”
Meanwhile, tavern owners around Tshwane said they were dismayed at the apparent favouritism being shown towards restaurants by the government.
Oupa Mthombeni, leader of the Concerned Tshwane Liquor Traders Association, said they were disappointed that some of their suggestions, which included takeaways for customers, had been turned down.
Mthombeni said many, like himself, were juggling between paying tuition (fees) for their children’s college studies and keeping whatever they had left to put food on the table. “We understand the need for the government to curb the third wave and we are willing to help and abide by the regulations, but they can’t leave us to suffer like this.
“We are not even getting any assistance from them and they know that we need to. If they felt that we weren’t abiding by the regulations then the police should have been brought in instead of killing our livelihoods.”
The South African Liquor Brand owners Association also called on the government to reconsider allowing the limited sale of alcohol as liquor premises had become the target of crime and looting since the alcohol sales ban was reinstated.
Association chairperson Sibani Mngadi said member companies had reported several incidents of break-ins at their warehouses and distribution centres since the implementation of the current ban.
In the previous week members had reported criminal incidents and theft of stock from warehouses in Tshwane, Boksburg, Durban and Bloemfontein. “While many businesses are affected by the incidents related to political unrest, liquor stores are becoming a particular target of mass looting due to high demand for alcoholic beverages as a result of the ban of sales.”
He said the association had made a submission to the National Coronavirus Command Council, requesting that alcohol sales for home consumption be allowed from Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm.
They have also requested that e-commerce and home deliveries be allowed as these sales channels did not pose any increased risk of infections relative to similar sales of other goods.
“Opening some form of legal sales will reduce the increasing incidents of crime, especially at this time when experts are suggesting that Gauteng might have reached the peak of the current third wave of Covid-19 infections,” said Mngadi.
He added that despite this call, the alcohol industry recognised that restricting mobility through curfews, curbing gatherings and other protective measures including hygiene and sanitation had been recognised globally as the most effective and pragmatic approach to halting the spread of Covid-19.