The South African Restaurant industry is very close to collapse, and is in urgent need of a cash flow injection to survive, a major finding of a study conducted last month, as a follow-up to a survey which the Esus-Group conducted in June 2020. The lifting of the alcohol ban from midnight tonight is a step in the right direction but the Curfew must be lifted too and the international borders must be opened, says Restaurateur Giles Blanc, and Co-Director of the Esus-Group, which has international Hospitality interests, and owns The 41 and The Korner restaurants in Cape Town. Blanc announced on Friday that he will soon reopen The 41 for the first time since Lockdown commenced in March. Continue reading →
A survey conducted amongst restaurants by the international hospitality Esus-Group, has found that many restaurants reopened for Lockdown Sit-Down Service from 30 June, as the date coincided with the end date of the Government paying employees UIF/TERS, restaurants therefore being forced to reopen to be able to pay their staff. Sadly this may lead to the death of the restaurant industry, as they are using valuable cash to run a business which now has a turnover of 20% of that of last winter, the study shows! 
Today is a day of excitement as well as disappointment for restaurateurs, who have so looked forward to reopening their doors for a Sit-Down Service. The official reopening date is today, but sadly it appears that many restaurant doors will remain closed, restaurateurs citing the prohibition of serving alcohol with a meal, and this being the quietest time of the year for restaurants as the reasons why they will not reopen now, continuing with their Food and Alcohol Delivery and Collection Service.