The City of Cape Town notes with concern reports that there have been enforcement operations conducted by the South African Police Service (SAPS) that is inconsistent with the national lockdown regulations, with specific reference to COVID-19 hotspots.

In President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech on 14 December 2020, he mentioned that the hours of the curfew will start at 23:00 and will end at 04:00, with establishments in hotspot provinces required to close at 21:00.  It is important that SAPS observe the non-hotspot regulations as the President did not apply the same restrictions on Cape Town, as he did in Nelson Mandela Bay.

Losing hours of trading every night has many businesses such as restaurants, bars, theatres and cinemas worried about retaining customers, paying bills, and even keeping staff employed. I am receiving many desperate calls from business owners across the city.

Enforcing the incorrect closing hours will only further negatively impact the ability of businesses to support jobs and keep their doors open. Small business owners continue to feel the effects of reduced hours and foot traffic as they attempt to recover from hard lockdown. Every effort must be made to support businesses to continue trading safely to prevent further job losses.

Therefore, I have written to my counterparts at National Government, calling for the immediate discontinuation of SAPS enforcing hotspot regulations on areas not classified as such by the President.

In Cape Town, the hospitality industry needs every hour they possibly can to keep their businesses open and retain/create jobs. This is especially important during the peak festive season catering to visitors to our beautiful city.

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