Johannesburg – The Gauteng Liquor Forum said although the new Covid-19 lockdown regulations would have a severe impact on taverns and sheebens this festive season, they had no option but to comply.
The forum represents about 20,000 tavern and sheeben owners in the province, which play a pivotal role in the hospitality sector.
On Monday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that restaurants and bars will have to close at 10pm. Consumers will only be allowed to buy alcohol between 10am and 6pm from Monday to Thursday.
“Even though we are given the time to turn, we will still manage to survive, there is nothing we can do for now,” said the forum’s Thabo Modise.
There has been mixed reactions to the latest lockdown regulations announced by the president as the government tries to stall the second wave of infections.
All beaches along the Garden Route and Eastern Cape will be closed from Wednesday until 3 January while Durban beaches will only be closed on traditionally busy days like Christmas and new year’s.
The Restaurants Association of South Africa will be writing to the president on Tuesday to ask for a review of the new Covid-19 lockdown curfew to allow staff to go home later.
