Here’s what you need to know about this week’s restaurant industry protests

As cries for help from the government go unheard, South Africa’s restaurants are taking a stand.

This article was previously published on EatOut.co.za.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the South Africa restaurant industry has taken severe blows – most recently the reinstatement of the alcohol ban and curfew. Now restaurants are taking a stand.Here’s what you need to know:

The #JobsSavesLives movement

Organised by the Restaurant Association of South Africa, the #JobsSavesLives protest is a peaceful protest set to take place on Wednesday, 22 July 2020.

Restaurants will stand together to contest the current lockdown regulations by placing more than a million seats on the streets nationwide. The empty seats are symbolic to the cause – vacant seats mean jobs will be lost, thereby putting the lives dependent on those jobs in jeopardy.

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A post shared by Monique Venter (@monuknuk) on Jul 16, 2020 at 12:09pm PDT

The #ServeUsPlease movement

The second peaceful protest is set to take place on Friday, 24 July 2020, from 10am to 12pm. Organised by Brent and Ashleigh Perremore, the #ServeUsPlease protest also calls on those affected to stand together against restrictive lockdown regulations.

South Africa will see the construction of a human “chain” of sorts. Protesters (while adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols) will create two ribbon-linked lines running along main streets all over the country.

The different starting points are below.

Cape Town: Corner of Roeland and Buitenkant Streets

Franschhoek: At the Town Hall – 27 Huguenot Road.

Johannesburg: Corner of Rivonia Road and Maude Street

Pretoria: Corner of Stanza Bopape and Wessels Streets

Durban: Corner of Dr Pixley Kaseme and Church Streets

Port Elizabeth: Kings Beach parking lot on Kings Road

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The restaurant industry and livelihoods affiliated need all the support they can get. To help, join the protests if you feel comfortable doing so, eat out (and tip generously!) or donate to the Eat Out Restaurant Relief Fund