By Kaya 959 Reporter
The hospitality industry has welcomed Cabinet’s decision to scrap the curfew ahead of New Year’s Day celebrations.
Hospitality union, Fedhasa, says it is delighted with the move.
“We know our international tourists, in particular, enjoy late-night hospitality and the removal of curfew ensures that we are once again able to deliver this without restrictions.
“Lifting the curfew will make a substantial economic difference to many hospitality businesses,” says Fedhasa National Chair, Rosemary Anderson.
Anderson says the curfew meant that lodge, hotel, and resort guests were forced back into their rooms at midnight even though they were ‘technically’ at home.
“As Fedhasa, we have always maintained that the restrictions cause more harm to society, the economy and mental health than Covid itself has.”
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Sectors can now rebuild
On Thursday, Cabinet approved three changes to the country’s current lockdown restrictions.
In a statement, the Presidency said the curfew will be lifted and there will be no restrictions on the hours of movement of people.
There were also changes to the numbers of people allowed to gather and alcohol sale times.
“The number of people allowed to gather has been increased to 1000 indoors and 2000 outdoors. Alcohol establishments that have licences to operate beyond 11pm will revert back to full licence conditions,” the Presidency stated.
The DA’s Manny de Frietas welcomed the announcement. De Frietas says that the sectors hit hardest by restrictions will now be able to rebuild.
“Taking into account the various supply chains involved, this translates into hundreds of thousands of jobs that will be saved. This in turn can have only positive spin-offs for our economy. The tourism, hospitality, restaurant and entertainment sectors have an opportunity to rebuild themselves,” de Frietas says.
Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, further called on the government to end the National State of Disaster.
Winde says this would help grow the economy and create jobs.
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