Alderman James Vos says the current curfew needs to be reviewed.
“I have written to Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to implore her to consider and lobby for the current curfew of 21:00 to be extended,” Vos said.
He has been inundated with calls and correspondence from desperate businesses in the hospitality, manufacturing, retail and SMMEs across the business value chain. This includes the Cape Chamber of Commerce and the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (Fedhasa), who, after just managing to survive the first round of lockdowns are now facing closure due to closing their doors at 20:00, Vos added.
The curfew has led to a loss in trading hours, which has pushed many businesses to the brink, many not being able to retain customers, pay bills, or keep staff employed, he explained.
“Our local economy relies on the food and beverage, manufacturing, hospitality and retail sectors, including service providers, for jobs and economic activity, and therefore it’s important for these businesses to be fully functional.”
According to the latest information from Statistics South Africa, the tourism sector added R18,1 billion to the economy and supported just over 113 000 jobs in 2018.
Vos confesses the full extent of the various lockdown levels on business closures and job losses is yet to be established but he believes “thousands of businesses and jobs have potentially been lost or are at risk”.
He insists businesses need every hour to keep their doors open, retain and create jobs.
“As a country we are in the grips of a second wave of Covid-19, and saving lives as well as livelihoods continues to be a priority,” Vos says. “It must be noted that early indications are that the infection rate in the Western Cape is stabilising. This request for a curfew extension should not be taken lightly, but this is a bid to save what is left of the hospitality sector.
“I am reassured, and do so on the basis of the extensive health and safety protocols implemented by this industry, which I have seen first-hand through my many visits to various companies.”
Vos said he is confident extending the curfew by two hours to 23:00 will be help to give a lifeline to the sector.
