PICTURES: Restaurants take to streets to save jobs

Call for alcohol ban to be reviewed

Restaurant staff picket along Jan Smuts Avenue in Parkwood, 22 July 2020, as owners are calling for some of the lockdown regulations to be eased as their businesses are taking financial strain. Restaurants are calling for the lifting of the curfew and allowing their businesses to sell alcohol. Picture: Michel Bega

Restaurants across the country have taken to the streets for the #millionseatsonthestreets protest to bring attention to the plight of their industry due to Covid-19-related lockdown regulations.

The Restaurant Association of SA (RASA) put out a call for restaurants to join the demonstration. The alcohol trading ban and the 9pm curfew have heavily affected the restaurant industry and the demonstration attempts to raise awareness of the issue for government to take notice.

: Restaurant staff picket along Jan Smuts Avenue in Parkwood, 22 July 2020, as owners are calling for some of the lockdown regulations to be eased as their businesses are taking financial strain. Restaurants are calling for the lifting of the curfew and allowing their businesses to sell alcohol. Picture: Michel Bega

: People working in the restaurant, food and alcohol industry take part in a nationwide protest against provisions in South African government Lockdown legislation, which threatens the survival of the businesses and jobs, in Cape Town city centre, on July 22, 2020. The reintroduction on the ban on alcohol sales and a night curfew by the South African government will have a negative economic impact on the hospitality industry. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP)

: Restaurant staff in Norwood demostrate with tables and chairs on the street, 22 July 2020, as owners are calling for some of the lockdown regulations to be eased as their businesses are taking financial strain. Restaurants are calling for the lifting of the curfew and allowing their businesses to sell alcohol. Picture: Michel Bega

: Restaurant staff picket along Jan Smuts Avenue in Parkwood, 22 July 2020, as owners are calling for some of the lockdown regulations to be eased as their businesses are taking financial strain. Restaurants are calling for the lifting of the curfew and allowing their businesses to sell alcohol. Picture: Michel Bega

: People working in the restaurant, food and alcohol industry take part in a nationwide protest against provisions in South African government Lockdown legislation, which threatens the survival of the businesses and jobs, in Cape Town city centre, on July 22, 2020. The reintroduction on the ban on alcohol sales and a night curfew by the South African government will have a negative economic impact on the hospitality industry. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP)

: A sign is seen at a restaurant in Parkhurst, 22 July 2020, as owners are calling for some of the lockdown regulations to be eased as their businesses are taking financial strain. Restaurants are calling for the lifting of the curfew and allowing their businesses to sell alcohol. Picture: Michel Bega

: People working in the restaurant, food and alcohol industry, sit at tables that a restaurant placed on a traffic island, to take part in a nationwide protest against provisions in South African government Lockdown legislation, which threatens the survival of the businesses and jobs, in Cape Town city centre, on July 22, 2020. The reintroduction on the ban on alcohol sales and a night curfew by the South African government will have a negative economic impact on the hospitality industry. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP)

: Restaurant staff photographs are seen in the window of restaurant in Parkwood, 22 July 2020, as owners are calling for some of the lockdown regulations to be eased as their businesses are taking financial strain. Restaurants are calling for the lifting of the curfew and allowing their businesses to sell alcohol. Picture: Michel Bega

: Picture: Rodger Bosch/AFP

: Melville restaurant owners, staff and patrons demonstrate along 7th and 4th streets in Johannesburg, 22 July 2020, during the protest against the restrictions imposed by lockdown. Restaurant owners, staff, patrons took to the streets to voice their anger. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

: People working in the restaurant, food and alcohol industry take part in a nationwide protest against provisions in South African government Lockdown legislation, which threatens the survival of the businesses and jobs, in Cape Town city centre, on July 22, 2020. The reintroduction on the ban on alcohol sales and a night curfew by the South African government will have a negative economic impact on the hospitality industry. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP)

: Restaurant staff and supporters picket in Parkhurst, 22 July 2020, as owners are calling for some of the lockdown regulations to be eased as their businesses are taking financial strain. Restaurants are calling for the lifting of the curfew and allowing their businesses to sell alcohol. Picture: Michel Bega

: Parkhurst restaurant owners, staff, patrons in Johannesburg, 22 July 2020, during the protest against the restrictions imposed by lockdown. Restaurant owners, staff, patrons took to the streets to voice their anger. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

: Restaurant staff and supporters of The Local Grill picket in Parktown North, 22 July 2020, as owners are calling for some of the lockdown regulations to be eased as their businesses are taking financial strain. Restaurants are calling for the lifting of the curfew and allowing their businesses to sell alcohol. Picture: Michel Bega

: Restaurant staff picket along Jan Smuts Avenue in Parkwood, 22 July 2020, as owners are calling for some of the lockdown regulations to be eased as their businesses are taking financial strain. Restaurants are calling for the lifting of the curfew and allowing their businesses to sell alcohol. Picture: Michel Bega

: People working in the restaurant, food and alcohol industry, sit at tables that a restaurant placed on a traffic island, to take part in a nationwide protest against provisions in South African government Lockdown legislation, which threatens the survival of the businesses and jobs, in Cape Town city centre, on July 22, 2020. The reintroduction on the ban on alcohol sales and a night curfew by the South African government will have a negative economic impact on the hospitality industry. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP)

: Restaurant staff picket along Jan Smuts Avenue in Parkwood, 22 July 2020, as owners are calling for some of the lockdown regulations to be eased as their businesses are taking financial strain. Restaurants are calling for the lifting of the curfew and allowing their businesses to sell alcohol. Picture: Michel Bega

: Melville restaurant owners, staff, patrons along 7th and 4th streets in Johannesburg, 22 July 2020, during the protest against the restrictions imposed by lockdown. Restaurant owners, staff, patrons took to the streets to voice their anger. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

: Restaurant staff picket along Jan Smuts Avenue in Parkwood, 22 July 2020, as owners are calling for some of the lockdown regulations to be eased as their businesses are taking financial strain. Restaurants are calling for the lifting of the curfew and allowing their businesses to sell alcohol. Picture: Michel Bega

: Melville restaurant owners, staff, patrons along 7th and 4th streets in Johannesburg, 22 July 2020, during the protest against the restrictions imposed by lockdown. Restaurant owners, staff, patrons took to the streets to voice their anger. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

: Melville resident Willie Nieuwoudt with a placard along 7th and 4th streets in Johannesburg, 22 July 2020, during the protest against the restrictions imposed by lockdown. Restaurant owners, staff, patrons took to the streets to voice their anger. Picture: Nigel Sibanda

: Posters are seen in Parkhurst, 22 July 2020, as owners are calling for some of the lockdown regulations to be eased as their businesses are taking financial strain. Restaurants are calling for the lifting of the curfew and allowing their businesses to sell alcohol. Picture: Michel Bega

Restaurant owners and workers held placards outside their businesses hoping the government would hear their pleas and amend restrictions. Two of the biggest challenges the industry faces are the ban on alcohol sales and the 9pm curfew. Rasa estimates over 800 000 direct jobs are at risk due to these restrictions.

Photographer Michel Bega spoke to restaurant owners and managers to draw attention to those directly affected by these restrictions.

: Bruce Beattie, owner of Saigon Suzy in Parkwood had to let go of 25 staff members. Picture: Michel Bega

: Owners of The Local Grill in Parktown North Steve Maresch, left, and Llewy Mateza pose at their restaurant. The restaurant employs 36 permanent staff, plus a number of casual employees. “We are asking Mr Ramaphosa and the Cabinet to please help us. We need support and we have had very little. Our staff have not received UIF, which is crazy,” explains Maresch. Picture: Michel Bega

: Daniel Bosch is the owner of Delta Cafe. His business employs over 50 people and he explains he has had a difficult experience claiming UIF and Ters payments. Bosch feels there is no support from government for the restaurant industry. Picture: Michel Bega

: Sipho Ndluli, owner of Nex Door in Soweto, compares the situation with the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic to a nuclear apocalypse that you might see in a movie. He hires 35 staff members and has made no lay offs yet, but is asking government to save our legacy. “We understand the adversity, but please allow us to work within restrictions. We can limit sale of alcohol. If the President could please give us a workable framework we can ensure restrictions are adhered to,” states Ndluli. When alcohol restrictions were lifted the restaurant tried to change its business model to operate as a bottle store but it didn’t work. “By end of the July something has to change – otherwise I might have to temporarily close the operation,” adds Ndluli. “My brother and I we are funding this business from our own pockets, for months now.”

: Mathias Maguri, manager of Vuyos in Soweto, says the situation is really bad. Sometimes they will wait two days to serve one table. “A business can’t operate like this,” he says. They have not let go of any staff yet, but rotate their 20 staff in two shifts. Sixty to 70 percent of their business relies on alcohol trade. Maguri adds that at this stage they are losing money by opening their doors. He reckons they will have to close their doors if nothing changes in the next six weeks.

: Anthony Sacks, owner of two restaurants in Norwood – Next Door and RTG (Ready To Go) employed 50 people before the lockdown, but now they are down to 30 employees. He says his staff are in a desperate situation as they are not receiving no support. In order to cope with the changes he has converted his seating area into an extended kitchen and is trying to promote the takeaway foods option. Picture: Michel Bega

: Christa Ansell, owner of A Streetbar Named Desire in Parkwood and Peron in Bryanston poses at her business in Parkwood. Ansell employs 35 people at A Streetbar Named Desire and 27 in Bryanston. The effects of the lockdown and pandemic on her business have been devastating. She is hoping the #jobssavelives demonstration will help raise awareness about the challenges facing the restaurant industry. Picture: Michel Bega

: LeBrun Rossouw, owner of Jolly Roger, says his business employs 34 people. The Jolly Roger has relied predominantly on alcohol sales in the past, but has adapted by trying to prioritise takeaway food sales. Rossouw explains that there are challenges there too as delivery companies take a large percent of the sale too. Rossouw states that for his business to survive the government needs to allow the sale of alcohol again. Picture: Michel Bega

: Sean Barber, owner of the Rockets franchise, poses for a photograph at Rockets in Parkhurst. Barber explains his business has been destroyed, calling it a massacre. Before the lockdown he had 12 restaurants across Johannesburg and Pretoria – he has since closed 2, but still employs approximately 400 people. He points out 60 percent of his business is based on alcohol sales. Additionally he explains the 9pm curfew means that the restaurant has to take its last order at 7.30pm, allowing time to serve the meal, shut down, clean up and get staff home by 9. He hopes the demonstration will bring awareness to their issues and show government that if they are allowed to work within certain parametres the industry can do so. Picture: Michel Bega

: Likhona Sithole, manager at Sakhumzi on Vilakazi Street in Soweto, says that their main business used to come from tourists, but with borders closed they are really struggling. She says locals are still sceptical with their fears of the coronavirus. They have had temporary staff cuts. She hopes that as temperatures warm up they will see an increase in local visitors again. Picture: Michel Bega