It remains to be seen if informal township and rural businesses like informal taxi rank kitchens and those selling skopo are included
As President Cyril Ramaphosa announced further easing of lockdown level 3 restrictions to allow more business activity, it remains to be seen if businesses surviving by selling food at taxi ranks or skopo in townships and rural areas will also be allowed to trade.
Speaking on Wednesday 17 June 2020, Ramaphosa announced that sit-down restaurants, casinos and accredited accommodation will soon open to the public — under stringent conditions — after being closed for over 80 days since the lockdown was announced in March.
Personal care services, including salons and personal beauty services, will also be permitted to offer their services, while sports lovers will soon be able to play contactless games, with some contact sport to be allowed with defined restrictions.
There are businesses that haven’t earned an income or revenue, and individuals who haven’t earned a salary for over 80 days, even with the measures we put in place to support companies, workers and poor households as part of the R500 billion relief package that we announced.
As countless of dancers in traditional dance groups, deejays, aspiring singers, brass bands and promoters who used to earn a living from performances and at functions across rural and township South Africa are left wondering if they will ever receive government relief, it remains to be seen if informal kitchens making money selling cooked food at taxi ranks are included in those businesses the President said ‘haven’t earned an income or revenue or a salary for over 80 days, even with the measures we put in place to support companies, workers and poor households as part of the R500 billion relief package that we announced.‘
When President Ramaphosa announced in May that the country would be moving to alert level 3 from 1 June, he said government would give consideration to re-opening other sectors of the economy, if the necessary safety precautions were put in place and maintained.
Therefore, following discussions with industry representatives on stringent prevention protocols, and after advice from scientists and consultation with Premiers, Cabinet has decided to ease restrictions on certain other economic activities
Industries due to reopen soon
– Restaurants for ‘sit-down’ meals.
– Accredited and licensed accommodation, except home-sharing accommodation like Airbnb.
– Conferences and meetings for business purposes and in line with restrictions on public gatherings.
– Cinemas and theatres, to be aligned to limitations on the gathering of people.
– Casinos.
– Personal care services, including hairdressers and beauty services.
– Non-contact sports such as golf, tennis, cricket and others.
– Contact sports will be allowed only for training and modified activities with restricted use of facilities.
However, these businesses need to adhere to strict safety requirements, which need to be put in place before they can reopen.
Detailed measures and the date from which these activities will be permitted will be announced in due course.
We have taken this decision with due care and seriousness, appreciating the risks associated with each activity and the measures needed to manage those risks
Ramaphosa said these businesses employed over 500 000 people before the lockdown and as such Cabinet thought very hard about the people employed by these businesses and those who depend on them for their livelihoods.
Meanwhile, he said, government continues to balance the superseding objective of saving lives, while preserving livelihoods.
