Durban - KwaZulu-Natal tourism, restaurant and hair and beauty businesses face tough times as they open and attempt to recoup massive losses and repay debts incurred during the lockdown over the next few months.
“We are all highly optimistic but concerned about what restrictions we are going to have in place. A lot of businesses are tentatively opening up, as well as a lot of restaurants that have been open for take-aways and have protocols in place already,” Tungay said. He added that the industry expected the government to announce the regulations within the next few days.
“Most of us are having to survive by taking out Covid-19 loans, which are all at the prime rate - it has not given us any breaks. A lot of smaller businesses, especially restaurants, are being turned away by the banks because they say it’s too risky,” he said.