The Restaurant Association of South Africa (RASA) has come out in a sharp attack against President Ramaphose this afternoon, in anticipation of the President extending the current Level 4 Lockdown, in a speech which is expected this weekend.In its long media statement RASA calls on the Government to urgently allow restaurants to operate again. It supports this by stating that more than 1000 restaurants have closed down permanently since March last year, and more are expected during this current Level 4 Lockdown.
The owners and staff of Restaurants, Coffee shops, and Bars, and related suppliers, will be heading out to the streets twice this week, to protest to the Government and raise awareness about the poor treatment the Restaurant Industry, Tourism Industry, and Hospitality Trade is experiencing, the Curfew and ban on alcohol sales announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 12 July being the final straw for an industry that has been most discriminated against during Lockdown in our country. 
Monday 22 June 2020, Day 22 of Level 3, after 66 days at Levels 5 and 4 😷
Despite being on the mailing list of the Restaurant Association of South Africa (RASA), I did not receive the media statement which formed the basis of a Saturday Star story this past weekend about the Restaurant industry, and how it is suffering. Usually polite about the Government in its communication, this report presents a more critical RASA, describing the Government as ‘irresponsible’ in not allowing restaurants to open for a sit-down Service. Currently Restaurants are allowed to offer a Food and Alcohol Delivery and Collection Service in Lockdown Level 3.