The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management, James Vos, has asked Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to amend the current curfew.
“I do not make this request to lift the curfew lightly but in a bid to save what is left of the hospitality sector,” he said, explaining that he had received calls from many desperate hospitality businesses as well as Fedhasa.
Under adjusted lockdown level three, a curfew from 21h00 to 05h00 is enforced, and all non-essential businesses, including restaurants, are required to close at 20h00 to allow staff time to commute.
James said he was confident that moving the current curfew to 23h00 would offer a lifeline to the industry.
“Our local economy relies on the tourism, food and beverage and hospitality sectors, including service providers, for jobs and economic activity.” He said, according to the latest information from Statistics South Africa, the tourism sector added R18,1bn to the economy.
He said the full effect of the lockdowns had yet to be determined, but that potentially thousands of jobs had been lost. “These businesses need every hour to keep their doors open, retain and create jobs.”
James told Travel News that many businesses were facing a “make or break” situation. “My call to government is straightforward. Change the curfew to save jobs.”
