- Celebrity chef Luyanda Mafanya lost her essential services permit after she tweeted that she is delivering prepared food.
- The CPIC said that prepared food is not an essential service, and the delivery thereof is prohibited.
- Mafanya apologised, saying she misunderstood the category of essential services she received.
- For more stories go to www.BusinessInsider.co.za.
Well-known South African chef and My Kitchen Rules South Africa contestant Luyanda Mafanya has lost her essential services permit after she tweeted about delivering prepared food during the lockdown.
Mafanya, 25, on Tuesday afternoon tweeted that she was “off to deliver some grub”. Attached to the post were pictures of cooked chicken and wors.
Here is the GPS pic.twitter.com/Uii4hKBSTG
— ntsikelelocalvinntsika (@NtsikeleloCanga) April 14, 2020
The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission’s (CIPC) Twitter account soon replied that the delivery of prepared food is not an essential service under the Covid-19 lockdown regulations, and that delivery is only allowed for essential products.
Prepared food is not an essential service. Delivery is also only allowed for essential products and services.We will be revokeing your application. All revoked applications are handed over to @the_dti to proceed with legal action.
— CIPC - the dtic Group (@theCIPC) April 14, 2020
It said it will be revoking Mafanya’s essential services permit, and that it will be handing over the revoked application to the department of trade and industry to proceed with legal action.
By Tuesday evening, the CIPC’s business registration unit BizPortal replied to Mafanya that her essential services permit had been revoked, and that she will be receiving an email from them.
Your certificate has been revoked. You will be receiving an email from us.
— BizPortal (@BizPortalGovZa) April 14, 2020
BizPortal said that losing your essential services permit does not mean someone loses their company registration.
Mafanya has since deleted her original tweet. She issued an apology late on Tuesday evening, saying she clearly misunderstood her category of essential services.
This is a whole mess . I clearly misunderstood the category , I was wrong, I accept the consequences that come with it.I will stay home and continue to create the recipe content that’s all ????
— IG: @cookingwithluyanda (@Luyanda_Maf) April 14, 2020
“I was wrong, I accept the consequences that come with it,” she said.
On Twitter, users questioned why Mafanya thought she was able to deliver prepared food, but McDonald’s and KFC wasn’t.
Wait so Luyanda thought she could deliver food but big franchises like Macdonalds and all the others can’t? Ambition is priceless ??????
— ?? (@DollsThobega) April 14, 2020
I believe the apology is genuine but I have to ask, when you saw abo McDonalds closed, abo KFC closed, Abo Debonairs closed and Uber Eats not delivering food did you think that they did not have access to the CIPC website bona? pic.twitter.com/Ydzu0m82JH
— Bonisile FromTembisa (@Bonisile_RMS) April 14, 2020
Luyanda taking orders even though her certificate was revoked pic.twitter.com/u706Bp95bh
— Harold Finch (@Jika_Uthi) April 14, 2020
Can't believe Luyanda really thought cooking was food production. We love an ambitious gyal??
— Depressiana (@MoanerLeaser) April 14, 2020
So Cooking with Luyanda is the latest victim of oversharing on the TL now her certificate has been revoked ???? Le tlo bolaya ke Twitter https://t.co/6saxp9wV4F
— Motshidisi (@TshidiBaby_) April 14, 2020
People never learn that Social media can ruin their lives.... Bheka manje abo Luyanda are in deep shit pic.twitter.com/NrOonYv2Ue
— RationQ (@RationQ) April 15, 2020
Others thought the CPIC was too harsh with their response.
Since it’s the first and it’s an honest mistake can’t she get a warning? Revoking it is a bit much don’t you think?
— Siyamthanda Ndamase (@Ndamase_Siya) April 14, 2020
Luyanda is such an amazing person with an amazing aura. All she does is post her meals and showcase her passion and talent. One slips she’s being attacked and laughed at. Twitter people always ready for your downfall.
— Inno Matijane (@innomatijane) April 14, 2020
Mafanya is one of many who have lost their essential services permits after users on Twitter informed the CPIC of their actions.
The Lawns in Camps Bay, Cape Town, lost its permit after sharing on Instagram that it can deliver prepared meals.
They applied fraudulently, and the certificate has been revoked.@the_dti will be taking legal action against fraudulent applications.
— CIPC - the dtic Group (@theCIPC) April 12, 2020
No, it's not. We are revoking their certificate.
— CIPC - the dtic Group (@theCIPC) April 14, 2020
(compiled by James de Villiers)
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