The Restaurant Collective, which includes restaurants such as Tasha’s and Ocean Basket, has called on Government to not extend the Level 4 Lockdown Sit-Down Restaurant closure from 12 July.
The Restaurant Collective is a voluntary association which is ‘a unified voice for positive change for the Sit-down restaurant industry in South Africa’. Its members are predominantly Johannesburg based, in a province which is currently severely struggling with Covid case numbers. Continue reading →
I was fortunate to receive a copy of the gazetted Lockdown Level 2 regulations prior to the presentation by Minister Dlamini-Zuma at a Media Livestream just after lunch time today.
The Regulations are as follows:
1. The Curfew remains in place, from 22h00 – 4h00
2. A mask must be worn at all times when leaving one’s home, including in public transport
3. No more than 50 persons may attend a funeral
4. No evictions from own accommodation is allowed.
5. Any disputes regarding rented accommodation must be heard by the Rental Housing Tribunal
6. Gatherings are not allowed except for a funeral, a religious gathering, the workplace, conferences and meetings, cinemas (maximum of 50 persons), theatres, concerts, and live performances of up to 50 persons. casinos, auctions, sporting activities, weddings (limited to 50 persons), social events at one’s home with a maximum of 10 persons, fitness centres and gyms (maximum of 50 persons), sports fields, swimming pools (maximum of 50 persons), beaches, public parks, museums, galleries, libraries, Personal Care services, restaurants, bars (maximum of 50 persons), Taverns (maximum of 50 persons), Shebeens (maximum of 50 persons), tour operators, and all accommodation establishments including AirBnB (maximum of 50% of floor space).
7. Night clubs are not allowed to open.
8. The country’s borders remain closed except for ports (but cruise ship stops are still banned), and for approved flights for persons requiring international medical care, and for incoming and outgoing repatriation travel.
9. Transport regulations: buses and taxis may not carry more than 70% for long distance travel, and 100% for any other travel; all passengers must wear a mask.
10. Licensed on-consumption establishments may sell alcohol (no timing restrictions) , while licensed off-consumption outlets may sell alcohol on Mondays – Thursdays, from 9h00 – 17h00.
A shock is that the ban on cigarette sales, which the President announced would be lifted, is not mentioned in the gazetted Level 2 regulations at all. A news report by News24 states: ‘Level two has no provisions on tobacco, which means no restrictions or limits in the sale of cigarettes, vaping liquid, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, or anything associated with these products’. In her speech, the Minister mentioned that cigarettes should be smoked responsibly, and should not be shared!
Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide
It is unbelievable that the Government is keeping Restaurants, Bars, Shebeens, and Taverns in the dark as to the reopening date, as well as the regulations which will determine under which conditions Restaurants may welcome back diners for Sit-Down Service, as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa over a week ago. If restaurants are to reopen on 1 July, as is assumed, it gives them less than a week to set up after a three-month closure due to Lockdown Levels 5 and 4. Continue reading →
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While President Ramaphosa spoke to the nation on Wednesday evening, announcing the long-awaited news that restaurants are to reopen for Sit-Down Service on an as yet unnamed date, a Tweet was sent out by the Government information service, announcing that the following is prohibited: ‘Consumption of Alcohol in restaurants, bars, shebeens, and taverns’ . This has caused a shitstorm in the restaurant industry, already struggling to make ends meet via Restaurant Food and Alcohol Delivery and Collection. Furthermore, a bar, tavern, and shebeen that does not serve alcohol is a farce, and cannot survive! Continue reading →