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The alcohol sector is now concerned that tight restrictions on the industry could deal a devastating blow to already struggling outlets.
FILE: SAB beer cases are being collected as the Fenyane Bottle store prepares for the resumption of alcohol sales on August 18, 2020. Image: EWN.
JOHANNESBURG – With mounting pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic on the country’s healthcare system, liquor merchants on Monday asked the government to consider their input, while some unions said there should be stricter regulations.
ALSO READ: Call on government to tighten lockdown restrictions amid surge in COVID-19 cases
It is speculated that the government will change its strategy in the fight against the pandemic after the country surpasses the agonizing milestone of one million confirmed cases.
The alcohol sector is now concerned that tight restrictions on the industry could deal a devastating blow to already struggling outlets.
The liquor merchant formations called on the government to work with the sector to find mutually beneficial solutions on how to fight the pandemic and ultimately save jobs in the industry.
“We believe that a total ban on the alcoholic beverage industry will not be sustainable for us and we are also trying to recover from the previous lockdown,” said Lucky Ntimane, convenor of the group.
“We really hope that this December and early January we can negotiate, but we are waiting for the president to make that call,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Nursing Organization of South Africa (Denosa) is calling on the government to implement stricter restrictions to help ease pressure on workers who are said to be fatigued and depressed.
READ: More WC sanitation workers contract COVID-19
Officials from the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal said they had already reached their bed capacity.
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