The Restaurant Collective, which represents many restaurants within the Jeffreys Bay area, was created at the beginning of the National Lockdown in order to coordinate the implementation of Government legislation and to stand together with initiatives to ensure their doors remain open.

On Wednesday 22 July 2020 a memorandum was handed over to the Kouga Municipality. On the ground to receive the memorandum was the Ward 11 Councilor and Speaker, Hattingh Bornman.

The memorandum stated:
On a national level: We stand here today in solidarity with the National Restaurant Organisation to bring these restrictions to an end. On a local level: We are here representing the Kouga Restaurant Collective. Local restaurants employ over 2000 workers. Up to 90% will lose jobs and their income if things do not change. Owners of local restaurants and the hospitality industry in general can no longer sustain the lengthy lock down, hereby requesting assistance from the Municipality.

The organization requested the recreation of a solidarity trust fund managed by Kouga Municipality to assist local business and the economy.  They also requested relief and reprieve of utility bills and rates, seeing that for 3 months (April – June 2020) all establishments were closed. Many remain closed, while others are struggling to remain open. Finally requesting that the municipality write off municipal debts incurred by these establishments.

Clr Bornman indicated that the Municipality has already engaged in obtaining funds and will respond in due course. “We are all affected by this”, he indicated in support of the campaign.

Looking forward to a positive outcome from this Memo, as well as a written response within 10 working days, a response is expected by 1 August 2020, said organizer Mamma Sonja owner of the popular and famous Bay Pasta Co in Jeffreys Bay.