Restaurant owners and owners of stores/sheds on farms should take note that they must apply to the local authority if they wish to host events in their respective venues during the holiday season. Events include live entertainment by singers, bands, and DJs. Restaurants, stores, and sheds are not regarded as Places of Entertainment, and therefore permission must be obtained from the local authority. If events are advertised, whether on social media or in the printed press, for which spectators must book and pay, it is considered an official event. Only a few restaurants and the community halls in the respective towns have the necessary requirements to host such events and are also permitted to do so according to the Zoning Scheme. Venues that do not have the necessary permissions to host events also do not comply with health, safety, and fire regulations, and expose themselves to risks such as fire hazards, emergency evacuations, smoke inhalation, insufficient ablution facilities, inadequate parking areas, etc. Restaurants are allowed to host single-person performances, but only in cases where the performance is not advertised or tickets are not sold for it.
Owners of venues who plan for events during the holiday season should contact Wessel van Brakel at wessel@hessequa.gov.za
