Restaurant industry welcomes easing of the booze ban
The Restaurant Association of SA (Rasa) says it’s grateful for the urgency at which government has addressed their plea to lift the alcohol ban and save establishments from economic ruin and more workers losing their jobs.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Monday evening that the sale of alcohol will be permitted again, albeit with some restrictions still in place.
It comes a week after Rasa CEO Wendy Alberts and a handful of restaurant owners staged a three-day sit in the Union Buildings pleading with Ramaphosa to lift the alcohol ban.
More than 30% of restaurants have had to already shut their doors permanently or temporarily because of the ban that’s been in place three times since Covid-19 was first detected in South Africa in March 2020.
Alberts says the latest lifting of the ban is a huge relief for restaurant owners.
“And we certainly want to wholeheartedly thank the president and all the various ministers for their urgency for hearing our desperate pleas to save the restaurant industry.
“We certainly hope that it is not too late for many operators.
“We thank South Africans who have given us support to be able to survive,” says Alberts.
Engagements are expected to kick off today with insurance companies for pay-outs to assist affected restaurants.
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