One of the shock decisions by the Government during the State of Disaster during the Corona Virus Lockdown has been to make it illegal to export South African wines, and to transport wines from wine estates to the ports, just nine days after exports were allowed, and despite the export of fresh fruit and other agricultural products being allowed. The export wine ban means a loss of R200 million per week to the wine industry, says industry body VinPro. Continue reading →
I have tried to enquire about an Argentinian couple which could not return to its home country when our Lockdown was announced at short notice, living in the block of flats I live in, arriving as tourists two days before Lockdown (25 March). They did not go into quarantine as soon as they arrived in the building, but rather went Sightseeing and Shopping on the two days prior to the Lockdown. They also moved apartments inside our block during Lockdown. I contacted more than ten COVID-19 and other government-related agencies, and reached a dead-end, with no one knowing how to do deal with this couple. Continue reading →
Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* The ANC has taken the City of Cape Town to the Cape Town High Court, about the change in its logo last year without obtaining public input. The logo was widely criticized when it was launched. The political party estimates the cost of rolling out the new logo at R8 million.
* Nederburg Auction 2015 keynote speaker Robert Joseph will share Continue reading →
Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* The Rand dropped to its lowest level ever yesterday, at R14 to the dollar, mainly in reaction to lower than expected growth forecast for China. The exchange rate will impact on inflation locally, but the oil price was at a 61/2 year low of $40 per barrel yesterday.
* The on-going visa regulation drama can have a further dire consequence, Continue reading →