Restaurants are only allowed to sell food via takeaway or drive-thru during Level 3 of the lockdown. Many businesses have had to close their doors permanently as this is not enough to stay afloat.
Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane said that a proposal aiming to allow restaurants to accommodate sit-in patrons is being drafted and will be submitted to the National Coronavirus Command Council.
‘We are in discussions with restaurants so that whatever solution is provided in this regard for sit-down doesn’t perpetuate the inequality, and we are confident that in our next submission to NCCC this will be considered,’ Kubayi-Ngubane said in a briefing on Saturday, 30 May.
The industry body, Restaurant Collective says there are about 13,000 sit-down establishments nationally employing 500,000 people, according to eNCA.
Members of the public have taken to Twitter with various views on the situation:
So open everything, no-one is forced to go to a restaurant or a beach either.
— Kari Schoonbee (@karischoonbee) May 26, 2020
Ramaphosa has announced that places of worship will open under Level 3, with a max of 50 people. Surely this means theatres, restaurants and bars will also be able to open to 50 people at a time at Level 3?
— Tom Eaton (@TomEatonSA) May 26, 2020
I think let’s go 50/50 @PresidencyZA restaurants open to 50, Gym 50, everything 50 or kanjan @DBE_SA @OfficialSASSA
— Mkhuseli (@Mvulaqumba) May 27, 2020
I’ve seen people asking about the difference between opening restaurants, churches, hair/nail salons & attending the protests over the weekend. Nobody NEEDS to eat out, attend church, or get their hair cut. Everybody SHOULD rise up against police brutality. #BlackLivesMatter
— James Hamric (@HokieinSA) May 31, 2020
Image credit: Unsplash
Also Read: The 13 Best Maboneng Restaurants
