Restaurant Association wants govt to 'submit evidence' that it contributes to Covid-19
The Restaurant Association of South Africa (Rasa) has called on government to submit evidence that the restaurant sector contributes to Covid-19 infections.
This follows reports that the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) could impose an alcohol ban ahead of the Easter weekend to combat rising Covid-19 infections.
Rasa CEO Wendy Alberts says they are not going to allow another hard lockdown on their sector.
"By not proper consulting and not presenting evidence and not giving a call of action to show that restaurants are indeed actually the cause of the high transmission of Covid-19, we are not going to accept any further restrictions of lockdown from the industry.
"We have fought long and hard to rebuild our businesses. We displayed and advocated every degree of responsibility that can show in our establishment that we have social distancing, and we can restrict the numbers."
READ: Mozambique attacks robs KZN father of seeing kids grow up
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says discussions are underway to decide what to do ahead of the Easter weekend.
Alberts says they will continue to fight for the industry despite looming strict lockdown regulations.
"Government needs to control and uncontrol spaces and they need to move to spaces that cause Covid-19 as super-spreaders, and it is not restaurants sector.
'We are going to continue to advocate that it is not the restaurant sector that is putting pressure on the huge amount of numbers and the government need to go back and do the research and put control in place."
