Minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel, looks to be contemplating the reopening of the hard-hit cinema industry. In newly gazetted amendments to current regulations, he acknowledges that the cinema industry has been severely impacted by the lockdown.
The gazette reads, “In addition, following consultations with the Competition Commission, regulations pertaining to the Covid-19 block exemption for the retail property sector have been amended to include the cinema exhibition industry.
The department has received representation from stakeholders in the cinema exhibition industry on the safe reopening of the sector, and is engaging in a process with stakeholders and the national department of health to determine the appropriate protocols for reopening of the sector”.
This would be welcome news to Nu Metro, Ster Kinekor and Independent Cinemas around South Africa. Major movie releases were also affected due to theatres going dark - blockbusters such as No Time To Die, A Quiet Place, Mulan, Peter Rabbit 2, and The Fast and the Furious 9 were all put on hold.
Meanwhile, the beleaguered casino industry is pleading with the government to allow them to reopen as soon as possible.
Group CEO Chris Du Toit told Moneyweb, ”We already been closed for more than two and a half months, which has had a detrimental impact on our business. It is of critical importance that we can start trading again, even at a reduced capacity.”
Du Toit said that they have presented the government with comprehensive COVID -19 plans, which include strict health protocols, as part of its bid to reopen casinos sooner.
He further highlighted the impact the closure of the casinos has had on the livelihoods of thousands across the country, “Every day that we are not allowed to trade will have a greater impact on our business, including higher debt levels and the need to restructure our cost base.” Tsogo Sun employs around 10 000 people and indirectly supports many more thousands of jobs.
They are lobbying for a 1st January reopening.
