There are likely to be further job and revenue losses for the events sector as many live events were cancelled in the Eastern Cape following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement on Thursday (December 3) that gatherings – including religious gatherings – may not be attended by more than 100 people for indoor events and 250 for outdoor events. 

So said Glenton de Kock, CEO of the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) in response to Ramaphosa’s announcement.

He pointed out that an estimated 100 000 jobs in the events industry were already at stake and a projection of R80 million (€4.2 million) to R90 million (€4.7 million) lost to date. With these new restrictions there are likely to be more losses.

De Kock called this latest development a “devastating blow” to the sector, noting that people’s behaviour had a huge impact on South Africa’s economic survival. He emphasised that SAACI worked closely with its members to ensure the implementation of the stringent health and safety protocols that have been developed by the sector.

According to de Kock, the sector is in for a “really long and slow” recovery. “I estimate at least 18 to 24 months before we return to normal.”