COVID-19 information for Franschhoek Residents, Businesses and Visitors
As the festive season approaches the Department of Economic Development and Tourism together with Wesgro have launched the Safe Travels website. The purpose of the website is help domestic and international tourists to navigate the restrictions on travel, amongst other things.
View the website here for all the relevant information
In light of the current global health situation with regards to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) we want to reassure you that we are in contact with key role players on a daily basis. This includes the likes of Wesgro, Cape Town Tourism, Cape Winelands and SA Tourism, amongst others. As the situation unfolds, we will do our best to keep you updated as well as what measures are being put in place. As a community we need to stand together during this time, and should you receive any information which would be of value to us and others in the valley we ask that you share it.
To curb the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 South Africa is currently on a level 1 lockdown status (implemented on 21 September 2020).
The easing of restrictions focuses on reviving economic activity, but stringent public health and safety measures would remain in place for those sectors identified to resume some business activities. A strategy has been developed whereby the country, provinces, districts and metros will be classified on a five-level risk scale – one being low risk to five being the highest risk level – which will determine the restrictions in place at any given time.
The updated National Disaster Management Act has been published and can be accessed here. The following Disaster Management Act: Regulations: Coronavirus COVID-19 alert level 3: Amendment has been published on 12 July 2020.
The Protocols remain a live document, adjusted continuously in line with the risk-adjusted economic activity allowed, the pandemic status and published regulations and directions.
Download the latest version of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) Industry Protocols here.
Please see below President Ramaphosa addressing the nation on 28 February 2021 announcing updates under level 1 lockdown restrictions.
The following sectors will be opening soon:
THE FRANSCHHOEK WINE VALLEY TOURISM INFORMATION OFFICE
The Franschhoek Wine Valley Tourism Information Office is open as follows:
Monday to Friday 08h00 – 17h00
Saturday 09h00 – 14h00
Sunday 09h00 – 13h00
You are also welcome to email us or call our mobile number below and we will gladly assist you with any specific enquiries you may have.
E: info@franschhoek.org.za
M: +27 (0)66 224 6360 or +27 (0)21 876 2861
RESOURCES FOR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
A website with information to support businesses in the Western Cape is available. The website has been created to help business navigate the uncertainty caused by various sources of information during the crisis and provide guidelines and best practice to help companies build resilience for now, and the future. The team is made up of staff from the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), Wesgro (Cape Town and Western Cape Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency), City of Cape Town District Municipality, GreenCape and private sector. Visit https://www.supportbusiness.co.za for more information.
Public Hotline : 0800 029 999 or the Provincial hotline: 021 928 4102
Franschhoek Vignerons members can find Wine Industry related information by visiting the WineLand COVID-19 portal for the latest information or email info@vinpro.co.za should you have any questions or comments.
For global updates visit COVID-19 Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre
ECONOMIC SUPPORT AND GOVERNMENT RELIEF PROGRAMMES
19 May 2020: Economic relief measures during COVID-19
23 April 2020: Treasury on further tax measures to combat the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic
22 April 2020: Covid-19 crisis funding: Where to apply and what are the qualifying criteria?
9 April 2020: To assist businesses find and apply for the financial support that is available to the them, the Western Cape Government, City of Cape Town and Wesgro have today launched a fund location tool for businesses in the Western Cape. The online tool asks the user five easy questions; ranks the answers against pre-determined criteria as stipulated by the various relief measures and provides a list of relief measures the business may be applicable for. The process takes under a minute: www.supportbusiness.co.za/covid-19-support-finder
6 April 2020: The Tourism Relief Fund For SMME’s – The Tourism Relief Fund provides once-off capped grant assistance to Small Micro and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMMEs) in the tourism sector to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in order to ensure their sustainability. Capped at R50 000 per entity, grant funding can be utilised to subsidise expenses towards fixed costs, operational costs, supplies and other pressure cost items.
2 April 2020: South Africa Future Trust – SAFT will extend direct financial support to SMME employees who are at risk of losing their jobs or will suffer a loss of income because of COVID-19
2 April 2020: The Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SOC) Limited (sefa) provides financial products and services to qualifying SMMEs and Co-operatives, as defined in the National Small Business Act of 1996 and amended in 2004, through a hybrid of wholesale and direct lending channels. Download the COVID-19 SMME Relief Common Application Template. This is also available on the SEFA website. Applications can be sent to the following email addresses. For Business Growth/Resilience facility: izgrowth@sefa.org.za. For Debt Relief Finance: smmerelief@sefa.org.za. For more information, please contact Basil Nefdt at 022 713 4405 / 022 713 3432
2 April 2020: Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS)
1 April 2020: Visit https://www.gov.za/Coronavirus/support-business for information about the Debt Relief Finance Scheme, the Business Growth/Resilience Facility and Tax measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
31 March 2020: SATSA’s list of the different forms of relief options to tourism and travel companies during COVID-19.
27 March 2020: Unpacking the SMEs funding procedure (Moneyweb)
25 March 2020: COVID-19 relief measures for residents: Stellenbosch tackles challenges head-on
24 March 2020: Minister Ebrahim Patel: Government’s intervention measures on Coronavirus
24 March 2020: Interventions for the tourism sector by the Minister of Tourism
23 March 2020: COVID-19 SMME Emergency Funding Package
23 March 2020: FAQs – guidance on economic stimulus measures announced in the President’s address, 23 March 2020
23 March 2020: FAQs – interventions implemented by the National Empowerment Fund (NEF)
22 March 2020: FAQs – guidance for small business accessing the debt relief fund
22 March 2020: FAQs – private sector support to businesses
BUSINESS AND BEST PRACTICE IDEAS AND SUPPORT
22 May 2020: The tourism industry has developed comprehensive protocols for the operation of all types of tourism businesses or facilities in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. The protocols align with the WHO, NICD and DoH guidelines and advice, and will be revisited as required on an on-going basis. They cover customer information, PPE, physical distancing, and sanitisation and hygiene practices, among others, for staff and customers. Download the COVID19 Protocols for Tourism here.
2 April 2020: South African Tourism launches @SAwiltravelagain campaign – As part of South African Tourism’s call for citizens not to travel now so that we may travel later, they have launched a campaign to give South Africans hope during the lockdown period and reinforce the message that South Africa and its people will travel again soon and will welcome the world again. Download their videos and marketing collateral here.
1 April 2020: Download The Small Business COVID-19 Survival Guide by Marnus Broodryk.
EMPLOYEE ADVICE AND REGULATIONS
6 May 2020: Return to work: Who has to be screened?
2 April 2020: Public Transport FAQ’s
1 April 2020: COVID-19: TERS Funding Update by Gerald Jacobs
Corona Virus Easy Aid UIF Guide for Employers
25 March 2020: ‘The Employment Survival Guide’ by Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr Attorneys
25 March 2020: COVID-19 Q&A: Employee Guidelines
INFORMATION FOR WINERIES
8 May 2020: The South African wine industry is committed to adhering to all regulations and implementing health and safety requirements which will effectively address transmission risks of COVID-19 across the value-chain. The safety of the workforce, customers and consumers are of utmost concern to the industry’s business longevity. As such, the following health and safety protocols have been developed for the respective links in the South African wine industry chain, from production to manufacturing, transport, warehousing and export : SA wine industry health & safety protocols
24 May 2020: Wine Tourism Health and Safety Protocols by SA Wine Routes Forum.
4 May 2020: COVID-19 Q&A: Exports of liquor beverages – wine, spirits and other fermented beverages (level 4) – This Q&A document pertains to the exemption provided by the RSA Government to allow exports of liquor beverages (including wine) as per the Government Gazette that was published on the 29th of April 2020.
23 April 2020: SA wine industry relieved by excise dispensation
16 April 2020: SA wine industry update: Cessation of wine transport will curb exports
9 April 2020: COVID-19 Q&A: Wine exports
6 April 2020: SA wine industry update: COVID-19 lockdown #5 – Status of exports and ports
3 April 2020: COVID-19 in Agriculture by the Western Cape Government – An updated version of the Frequently Asked questions.
2 April 2020: Addendum to the Code of Communications for responsible marketing of alcohol products during the lockdown by AWARE
1 April 2020: COVID-19 Packhouse Measures & COVID-19 Harvesting Measures – COVID-19 in Agriculture
INFORMATION FOR RESTAURANTS
1 April 2020: Eat Out – Beyond Lockdown Opportunities for Restaurants
INFORMATION FOR ACCOMMODATION ESTABLISHMENTS
1 June 2020: Accommodation activities are allowed to accommodate business travellers (no leisure tourism allowed) under level 3 lockdown restrictions. Important to note that accommodation establishments no longer require a letter from Minister of Tourism to operate. They are required to ensure that they accommodate those in the permitted services and keep records for inspections by the department. The accommodation establishment has to be able to be accountable, as an owner of the facility when inspection comes. The Department of Tourism will be conducting inspections. Accommodation establishments will have to abide by guidelines and protocols that the NDT will be issuing.
6 May 2020: What accommodation services are permitted under Alert Level 4?
6 May 2020: What happens if I am travelling for an emergency and need to find accommodation? Examples of emergencies can be a vehicle that broke down, or a family who is seeking accommodation close to a hospital where their close immediate family member has taken up and can’t drive back home, or a patient who has to travel far to get to see their specialist etc.
2 April 2020: Disaster Management Act: Directions: Tourism guidelines on implementation of provisions relating to essential services
28 March 2020: COVID-19 block exemption for the hotel industry
23 March 2020: All properties are required to register their current international guests via the Central Traveller Registry. https://www.southafrica.net/gl/en/trade or Central Traveller Registry
OTHER
6 April 2020: COVID-19: Stellenbosch implements several steps to help communities and flatten the curve – an update from Stellenbosch Municipality
6 April 2020: Update on the coronavirus by Premier Alan Winde – over 1000 people screened on first day
30 March 2020: Reporting of fake news regarding COVID-19
29 March 2020: Download the Sacoronavirus.co.za logo pack here
25 March 2020: amended Disaster Management Act with regulations to address, prevent and combat the spread of Coronavirus COVID-19.
19 March 2020: FAQs – response to the SARB rate cut decision
ONLINE WEBINARS TO LISTEN TO
Monday 11 May: SA Tourism Webinar – Update On The Tourism Recovery Plan
Download the slides or listen to the full webinar below:
SA Tourism is undertaking the process of compiling a Tourism Recovery Plan for the sector. As such, they have created a series of webinars in order to engage the Tourism Industry on solutions, scenarios, and a way forward which will form part of this recovery plan. Three sessions were held in total, each lasting 90 minutes.
Thursday 9 April 2020
Tuesday 14 April 2020
Thursday 16 April 2020
RESOURCES FOR VISITORS IN THE WESTERN CAPE
1 April 2020: It is critical that all foreign citizens have been in touch with their embassies and have registered their current details with South African Tourism. Registering with South African Tourism can be done here and a list of embassy contacts can be accessed here. For more information on communication that SATSA have sent out from embassies, please click here.
24 March 2020: COVID-19 lockdown: What travellers need to know
Please find below more details about the 24/7 Tourist in distress programme as part of the Western Cape Government’s Tourism Safety and Support Programme. Alternatively download the image here.
Visitors should call the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) coronavirus hotline on 0800 029 999, the provincial hotline on 021 928 4102 or WhatsApp “Hi” to 0600 123 456 if they are at all unsure of how to proceed. You will get advice on what to do.
Contact our office at +27 (0)21 876 2861 or email infodesk@franschhoek.org.za if you have any questions.