THE dreams and goals of a young Upper Highway man are slowly fading away with the current Covid-19 pandemic threatening his employment.
Simiso Nkwanyana, a waiter at Mozambik restaurant in Hillcrest, is one of the many workers who have been affected financially due to the lockdown regulations.
“My wish this year was to save enough money to get my driver’s licence,” he said.
ALSO READ: Hillcrest protest highlights restaurant plight amidst lockdown restrictions
Nkwanyana said he believes that obtaining his driver’s licence will open many doors for him.
“I love my job here at the restaurant but my wish is to become a policeman. I thought this year I would finally be able to apply and have everything ready,” he said.
The 28-year-old said he has many other expenses as he is formerly from Stanger, but rents a room in KwaNyuswa.
“I also need to help out at home. The tips that we used to make helped with transport and kept us going, everything is expensive. We truly appeal to the president to relax some of the Covid-19 regulations. We are struggling, our colleagues have lost their jobs and things are going to take a turn for the worst if this continues.”
Nkwanyana recent;y spoke to the Highway Mail as restaurants across the country participated in a peaceful protest to appeal to government to relax Covid-19 regulations.
Although restaurants have re-opened for sit-down services, the protest was sparked by the sudden alcohol ban which was announced by the president on Sunday, 12 July.
Mozambik restaurant owner, Brad Ayerst said the industry has been hit hard by the pandemic.
“The strict regulations do not only affect us as owners only but the staff and their families,” he said.
Ayerst said they understand the seriousness of this pandemic but they have adhered to all regulations.
“We sanitise the restaurant about four or five times a day, we have halved our seats.”
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
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