As the restaurant industry prepares for a national protest this week, social media posts highlight the desperation of owners and staff under punitive lockdown regulations.
The owner of Le Bon Vivant said on Facebook: ‘My restaurant has not been trading for nearly four months. You can’t come and have a socially distant meal and a glass of wine at my business. You and my staff have to be home by 9pm.
‘When is this ridiculous situation going to end? However, 16 million South Africans travel to and from work in a minibus taxi, shoulder to shoulder every day, no restrictions. UIF/ TERS ends this month leaving our staff with nothing.
‘Add this to usbiness (sic) interruption insurance that almost all large insurance companies refuse to honour, while their policyholders are on their knees. If this situation doesn’t end soon, restaurants might not be there any more.’ Le Bon Vivant employs 15 staff.
On Instagram, the chef at Chef’s Warehouse at Maison is photographed holding up a sign saying: ‘42 Jobs’.
Also on Instagram, the executive chef at Homespun’s sign says: ‘22 jobs’.
Staff of La Pineta’s sign says: ‘32 jobs’.
La Pineta’s post says: ‘With another curfew and alcohol ban in place we find ourselves and our staff in a dire situation. Our staff have been the most severely affected as we simply cannot afford to have all of them back and those who have returned are on radically reduced working hours. With families to support, children to clothe and mouths to feed this is tragic. Business for us under these restrictions is not sustainable. We hold you accountable Mr President.’
Game Reserve Tanda Tula said it had 64 jobs supporting 623 family members.
Eat In Italian has 35 jobs with ‘217 mouths to feed. Dropped by Santam. No help from government.’
TimesLive reported that the Restaurant Association of SA (Rasa) was seeking legal advice on what action to take against the government’s new regulations.
Rasa’s Wendy Alberts said the action arose from the damage to the industry through restrictions on liquor sales and the curfew.
Rasa is the organiser of the ‘Million Seats on the Streets’ protest set to take place on Wednesday, from noon.