PANDEMONIUM IN THE CULINARY SECTOR

As South Africa’s national lockdown continues, we look at the ways in which SA Chefs, the government and others are pulling together to support you during this time.

The first case of Covid-19 was confirmed in South Africa on 5 March 2020, and within two weeks, the culinary world was in complete upheaval. The government introduced a range of restrictions, from social distancing to the cancellation of events and gatherings, as well as the closure of restaurants and fast food delivery services in a bid to reduce the spread of the virus.

These measures have had a devastating effect on the country’s chefs and restaurateurs, particularly given that the majority are small businesses, as well as freelance and parttime workers in restaurants and the wider food industry.

On 23 March 2020 Monday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a 21-day national lockdown in South Africa that has placed thousands of chefs in temporary unemployment. It has since been extended for a further two weeks until the end of April, although this date is yet to be confirmed.

IMAGE EDWIN HOOPER VIA UNSPLASH

THE REAL ISSUES AT HAND

Thomas Overbeck, General Manager at South African Chefs Association, says that there are three major underlying factors that are critical in this trying time in the culinary industry – things that he and the leadership of SA Chefs are seriously worried about.

“First it is our chefs that we are worried about. Their restaurants have had to close and they are now unemployed. We have made it our responsibility to see what we can do with and for them postlockdown to recover from this. Primarily it is about taking care of our members and the horrific effects that this unemployment will have on them.”

The second factor is that billions have been affected by the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic across the world, with hiking numbers of people going to bed without food or a glimmer of hope for their next meal. As such, a number of South African chefs have stepped in to volunteering and cook for those in need. “Our chefs have been busy volunteering with soup kitchens to help feed people,”

IMAGE WHO DU NELSON VIA UNSPLASH

Thomas explains. “Some of these chefs have also opened their homes to cooking for the less fortunate and have the food picked up and delivered to various stations where the food is distributed.”

By the time South Africa confirmed its first positive COVID-19 case, there were already many cases confirmed – as well as thousands of death cases in other countries. South Africa has, thankfully, been very proactive in preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus, and it is imperative that quality, accurate information is passed on. This brings us to the third factor, says Thomas.

“Through information research, we are learning lessons from the international countries who have been through this way before us, and are advanced in the stages of the pandemic. This is to to get an idea of how to go about dealing with the crisis. We are also receiving encouragement and support from our membership with Worldchefs.”

SA CHEFS IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING YOU

According to Thomas, SA Chefs has sourced all funding schemes available from solidary relief fund initiatives and UIF to many others that are available to all chefs and their employees in South Africa.

James Khoza, President of SA Chefs, has also continued to stand in solidarity with the industry, saying that “as the association that exists to serve the needs of chefs, we feel your anxiety, pain and even grief at the loss of life as we know it, intensely. We know that for many of you, your livelihood is threatened, unemployment in our sector is likely to increase, and uncertainty prevails. In our capacity as your association, we are supporting members with links to advice from the industry and government, information sharing, ideas and encouragement. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, share your inspirations and your thoughts to our pages, and stay connected with your fellow chefs during this time.”

LONG STREET IN CAPE TOWN IS EERILY EMPTY THESE DAYS ©

BRENTON GEACH - GALLO

INITIATIVES TO ASSIST CHEFS AND RESTAURATEURS

The Department of Tourism has launched the new COVID-19 Tourism Relief Fund to assist businesses in the tourism sector that have been hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi- Ngubane, says that the application period for the fund has been running from 7 April and will close on 30 May 2020.

The R200 million Tourism Relief Fund provides once-off capped grant assistance to Small Micro and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMMEs) to ensure sustainability during and post the implementation of government measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in South Africa. The fund will be administered in line with the objectives of economic transformation and will be guided by the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) codes of good practices.

“We acknowledge the difficulties experienced by businesses during this time, hence the need to support the industry and communities to cope with the negative effects of this pandemic,” Ms Kubayi-Ngubane says. “Our tourism industry is comprised of mainly SMMEs, most of which are survivalists in nature, with limited access to funding from commercial institutions. We hope the support offered through the Tourism Relief Fund will assure the continued survival of SMMEs beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Capped at R50 000 per entity, the grant funding can be utilised to subsidise expenses towards fixed costs, operational costs, supplies and other pressure cost items.Preference will be given to enterprises with the highest score in terms of the criteria, which serve as a pre-qualification. A panel of experts will conduct the final evaluation in terms of functionality.

Categories eligible to apply for the Tourism Relief Fund include:

• Accommodation establishments: hotels; resort properties; bed and breakfast (B&B’s); guesthouses; lodges and backpackers.

• Hospitality and related services: restaurants (not attached to hotels); conference venues (not attached to hotels), professional catering; and attractions.

Eat Out is also committed to assisting the South African restaurant industry during the national lockdown. In addition to launching a crowdfunding initiative on GoFundMe and BackaBuddy to support local restaurants, Eat Out has also postponed its annual Restaurant Awards and has stopped reviewing restaurants.

• Travel and related services: tour operators; travel agents; tourist guiding; car rental companies; and coach operators.

IMAGE BY ERIK MCLEAN VIA UNSPLASH

“With our restaurants in severe crisis right now, Eat Out’s core focus is to do everything in our power to assist the industry in recuperating,” the platform said in a recent statement. “To help support restaurants financially, we invite diners who would have gone out to eat, to offer some of that money to the restaurants. This can be done via GoFundMe or funds can be pledged to individual staff members through BackaBuddy.”

Lastly, the Solidarity Fund will be independently administered and will assist individuals and organisations with support these efforts through secure, tax-deductible donations. The fund will operate with the highest principles of corporate governance and through an independent board, with Ms Gloria Serobe as Chairperson.

This fund aims to prevent, detect, care for and support those whose lives have been disrupted by the pandemic.

THE LAST WORD

Thomas says that the reality is that the world is going to be very different post-lockdown for the culinary community. “It is going to take time to gain confidence from customers as well as in the kitchen again. There are measures that will have to be implemented to ensure consumer safety as well as confidence in the kitchen. These may include setting tables two metres apart, waiters wearing masks, and emphasising the importance of sanitising and hygiene.”

A SECURITY GUARD PATROLS AN EMPTY STREET DURING NATIONAL LOCKDOWN ©

ASHRAF HENDRICKS

James offers comforting words of encouragement to the industry as we face these uncertain times: “Stay strong and safe, use accessible resources to improve or expand your skills and knowledge, and hold onto our shared hope for an end of the pandemic and for growth opportunities in our sector.”

DAILY COVID-19 UPDATES

SA Chef Media is committed to keeping you informed and connected with fellow culinary professionals during this trying time. We bring you daily updates specific to your business during this pandemic, weekly newsletters rounding up the most pertinent news, and, of course, our bi-monthly magazine which is available for anyone to access digitally on www. sachefmedia.co.za. If you’d like to tell your lockdown story, share a recipe or simply tell us how we can better serve you, please contact our editor on kim@filmeventmedia.co.za.