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Calls by the embattled tourism and hospitality industry for the government’s Covid-19 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) to be reinstated have finally been heeded.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Thursday night that the scheme, which came to an end in October, will be extended for select affected industries until March 15, 2021.
While he did not mention the industries that are set to benefit from the extension, the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) is confident that the sector will be included.
Other sectors, such as the liquor industry, that have been affected by the recent increased lockdown restrictions under alert Level 3 (which were in place for just over a month due to the second Covid-19 wave) also stand to benefit from the Ters extension.
From late December to earlier February, all liquor production and sales were banned as part of heightened Level 3 rules.
Access to beaches was also banned, affecting tourism hot spots, while the 8 pm curfew and on-site sales ban on alcohol also impacted the restaurant and broader tourism industries.
The president also announced the government’s decision to extend the period for the Special Covid-19 grant of R350 by a further three months.
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