Businesses fear they won’t survive second wave of Covid-19

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize confirmed on Wednesday that South Africa had entered a Covid-19 resurgence in four of the nine provinces.

Thokozani Mabaso, founder of Ngodini Bunduz at Eshowe in KwaZulu-Natal, says his business, which operates as a campsite and hosts other outdoor activities, will not survive another lockdown. 

Mabaso says his business is still reeling from the impact of the first lockdown.

“We are thinking that it may happen that we go back to the standstill, which affected us badly. I think if we ever have to go back to that point again, I don’t think that we are going to be able to rise again. But complying with Covid-19 regulations, we are hoping that it’s not going to be like before.”

Another business in the area also says the effects of the March lockdown are still being felt.

Marketing Manager of Aloe Lifestyle Hotel, Sifiso Ngubane, says 60% of his staff were retrenched as a result of the first lockdown.

The hotel employed 80 full and 30 part-time staff members. 

“We are worried about the second wave. Last time we were here before the lockdown in March, we could see that people were canceling bookings even before the announcement. We are anticipating that it may actually happen this time around.” 

The National Coronavirus Council Committee will meet on Thursday to chart a way forward amid the rising number of Covid-19 infections.

It’s expected that President Cyril Ramaphosa will make announcements on possible further Covid-19 restrictions before the start of the festive seaso