Statement by Brett Herron MPL (Western Cape), Secretary-General for GOOD
14 December 2020
A video filmed at a Cape Town restaurant called La Parada, in Constantia, last night (13 December 2020) shows disturbing scenes of a crowd of patrons partying with total disregard for Covid-19 regulations.
(https://twitter.com/nkosazana_the/status/1338377011212005377?s=20)
The Western Cape is experiencing a rapid surge of Covid-19 cases, and the President is expected to re-impose certain restrictions when he addresses the nation tonight.
There is no point in having rules if they are not adhered to or enforced. South Africans have constitutional rights to health and safety, which “Sunday Funday” events such as last night’s fundamentally undermine.
The restaurant industry has recently voiced concern about the re-imposition of trade restrictions, and has been lobbying national government to be able to trade.
While the plight the industry finds itself in is a major economic concern, restaurants are not helping their case by hosting reckless events.
Besides their irresponsibility, the La Parada restaurant, the band that performed last night, and all the patrons are guilty of knee-capping their industry’s argument that they have the discipline to operate safely. Instead, they have placed lives and other businesses in their industry in jeopardy.
I have written to Ms Wendy Alberts, RASA CEO, who is at the forefront of engagement with government about the restaurant industry requesting that she urgently engages with this restaurant, and the industry as a whole, about their responsibility to each other and to South Africa.
For the sake of those who are trading responsibly and within the rules, and who wish to continue to do so, those who are irrresponsible should face the consequences.
We implore everybody, including businesses, to adhere to the rules so that we can get through the second wave of the pandemic with minimal harm.
ENDS…