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FOR A GOOD REASON: Economic development MEC Qedani Mahlangu

TAVERN owners in Gauteng have accused MEC for economic development Qedani Mahlangu of trying to kill their businesses and make them and their families poor.

The Gauteng Liquor Forum have submitted a petition to the Gauteng legislature to stop Mahlangu from proceeding with the Gauteng Liquor Bill.

They intend to further oppose the Bill when it goes before the portfolio committee of economic development in the legislature.

The tavern and shebeen owners affiliated with the Gauteng Liquor Forum (GLF) have raised concerns about the proposed the Bill, claiming it will threaten the livelihood of many tavern and shebeen owners.

The GLF is made up of 15 associations representing over 8000 businesses.

The department of economic development expected the Bill to be law by next month, but this has been delayed by public consultations. The Bill will require all liquor traders including shebeens, taverns and sorghum beer sellers to have a licence to trade.

It is aimed at transforming the liquor industry, reducing the harm caused by consumption of alcohol and promoting sustainable economic growth.

The Bill proposes the following:

- The establishment of an appeals board where those whose applications have been rejected can lodge their appeal;

- Prohibiting the sale of alcohol to pregnant women and visibly intoxicated persons;

- Tavern owners to provide food at all times;

- Allowing the person in charge of the liquor trading outlet to asked for an ID to verify age; and

- Proximity of the liquor outlet to schools, churches, public transport and other liquor outlets.

Last year the department put a moratorium on issuing licences to improve its IT systems and establish the amount of licences. The moratorium was lifted in February.

Linda Madida, GLF spokesperson, said their concern was that it was impossible for shebeens to acquire their licences in a month.

"We are saying the application process has a lot of obstacles in it for one to get a licence. You have to get a consent user from the municipality and the zoning process.

"If it is a place for business you need rezoning, if it is a residential area you need a consent user."

Madida said they were unhappy with the current licensing process and expected more problems with the new system.

"When the municipality comes back, it comes back with huge demands which the shebeen owner cannot meet."

He said the municipality would demand an advance payment of water and electricity totalling R80,000.

"When inspectors come to see your place they point out a number of things you have to fix in your property, come the judgment day by the board, it rejects your application, maybe because you are closer to a school. But you have spent so much money fixing your property."

He said liquor traders opted to use lawyers, which costs up to R24,000. "Lawyers do everything for you. People use lawyers because they hold a view that when you are assisted by a lawyer you win, but if you submit the application on your own it is not successful."

He said making an application on your own costs just less than R5,000.

Madida welcome the Bill's proposal of the appeal board as it would reduce legal costs.

Mahlangu's spokesman Mandla Sidu said: "Until the Bill becomes an Act, we still have room for participation, there is still room for further engagement.

"Whatever concerns that these people have, they will be addressed. But this Act is not meant to discriminate or restrict, in fact it is meant to assist all liquor traders ... that everybody should have a licence whether it is a shebeen or a tavern."

Sidu said people could still apply and get permits based on the previous Act.

Comments

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Fri May 24 02:43:03 SAST 2013 ::

May 9, 2012

Bullytjies

Our South African people are so stupid without alcohol.They do things that un-comprehendable....
Add alcohol to the equation its a recipe for desaster....Stricter laws to obtain alcohol licenses but also the abuse alcohol cannot be used as an excuse when a adult person commits an offense...............

Our govermnent comes up with all the brightest idea's in the world but in reality they have no CLUE on what the normal South African needs....
Our people are suffering while Goverment cannot run a country......

Blind leading the blind ...
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May 9, 2012

Limpopoist

ANC lead govt are pushing black poeple into poverty
First
Our spazas took by somalian and pakistan,NOW bcos of their religion they cannot operate shebeen'

NOW the govt come up with Heavy RULE to closed down the tarven and shebeen.

Taxi industry it will be the only black type business to survive even though govt is trying very hard to destreoy it.(taxi recapitalisation, BRT etc
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May 9, 2012

Mafu'theNkukhu

Sizophuza kuphi mabevala indawo zethu esiphola kuzo nnxxxaaa...
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May 9, 2012

Kinggeezo

People who make up these laws always have expensive whiskeys in their personal bars so they won't be affected at all.
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May 10, 2012

BinoBanga

Ja ne!! Mzansi!!!!! We needgoseek asylums withother countries and go peole!!!!
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Oct 1, 2012

OldMacDonald

If they are a business they need to be regulated. If people cannot function without alcohol, there is a name and treatment for those.
Like the idea of a home though, that I saw commented on another article similair to this one. Here we have group homes for people with mental issues that are not a danger to society. I reckon part of the profits from shebeens should go into building those buildings, since the shebeen would be nothing without the people. Lots of people drink their money away then go home to their family with nothing, that needs to be addressed too.


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