FEDHASA, the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa, represents the interests of the accommodation and catering/restaurant sectors of the hospitality industry. FEDHASA is recognised by Government and industry role players as the hospitality industries representative body and voice.
As an Officer of FEDHASA, I am hereby submitting this appeal on behalf of our members for relief from Liquor License Fees during the initial period of national lockdown as imposed by the Government – 26/03/2020 – 18/08/2020 & then further restrictions during 2021, resulting in our members being unable to trade during this period.
As a result of the lockdown, our members were unable to trade or had very limited trading for the period indicated. At this point in 2021 many of our members have managed to reopen their doors are still not operating profitably. They have not received any benefit from their liquor licenses as they were not able to operate. With this in mind, we hereby urgently appeal to you for relief in the form of reduced liquor licence fees to assist the industry in keeping their doors open.
Our constituency has also vigorously requested that liquor license fees for 2022 are frozen due to the 2020 and 2021 lockdown period. The industry still had to renew their licenses even though they could not or could barely trade during this 2-year period. The industry is a major employer and any business closure is felt by many families in this time of high unemployment.
We would herewith like to please draw your attention to the relief offered by the Eastern Cape and request that you please look at a similar agreement in all other provinces – i.e.:
“The Eastern Cape MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism has published a provincial notice providing for the “Mitigation of Loss Suffered by Liquor Licensees – Extension of Validity of Registered Licences and Deferral of Fees Payable.”
The Eastern Cape notice extends the validity of a liquor licence that was already registered or deemed to have been registered before 27th March 2020 by a period of six months. The period of extension takes effect on 1st January 2021 and terminates on 30th June 2021. The period for payment of renewal fees in respect of a liquor licence is extended to 30th June 2021.’
I trust that our request will be favourably received.
FEDHASA Cape Joins Strategic Dialogue to Strengthen India–South Africa Trade Ties
FEDHASA Cape, represented by Chairperson Lee-Anne Singer, was honoured to attend a high-level engagement hosted by the Consulate General of India in Cape Town, in collaboration with Invest Cape Town, focused on bolstering trade and investment ties between India and the Western Cape. The event, held at the Taj Cape
