Since August last year, 126 illegal liquor outlets were shut down and a million rand's worth of liquor seized

THE Gauteng department of economic development has lifted its six-month moratorium on the issuing of liquor licences.

During the moratorium, the Gauteng Liquor Board went on a drive to root out corruption and improve its internal systems, resulting in the charging of nine officials. Five of them have been suspended.

Since August last year, 126 illegal liquor outlets were shut down and a million rand worth of liquor seized, mainly in Katlehong, Vosloorus, Thokoza, Soweto, Kagiso, Yeoville, Sunnyside in Pretoria and Tembisa.

Department of economic development spokesman Mandla Sidu said: "The forensic audit work we have done has resulted in the department taking stern disciplinary action against a number of officials in the liquor unit that were implicated in fraudulent issuing of liquor licences."

He said the moratorium was to allow the Liquor Board space to:

*Curb fraudulent issuing of licences,

* Deal with backlog of applications in the system,

* Introduce IT and business systems in order to improve the turnaround time of new applications, and

* Curb the proliferation of liquor trading outlets throughout the province and improve the administration processes.

Public comments on the Liquor Bill, which amends the 2003 Act, closed on February 29.