President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphatically denied a request
from the Gauteng Liquor Forum to ease the restrictions on the sale of alcohol
during the nationwide lockdown.
He said that the decision was taken to uphold the
restrictions because of the “dangers associated” with the sale of alcohol.
Also, he said in a letter sent through the State Attorney,
that the sale of alcohol was “not an essential service” and that selling it
would impact negatively on the country's battle against the coronavirus
pandemic. Alcohol was also responsible for an increase in crime and was a major
reason for medical emergencies.
A week ago the forum threatened to go the Constitutional
Court over the restrictions, which they said would “gravely” affect the 20,000
micro and small businesses in Gauteng they represent.
The extension of the lockdown — in combination with the
total ban on alcohol sales — would “most likely ruin” these businesses, the
forum said.
Ramaphosa was initially given until Tuesday to respond, but
asked for an extension until Friday.
In the letter Ramaphosa denied the request, saying that the
ban on alcohol sales was in line with the government's measures to address the
pandemic.
The State Attorney said Ramaphosa, his cabinet and the
National Command Council met this week to “consider the economic implications
of the continued lockdown on SA”, including on township-based shebeens and
taverns.
“During the discussions held this week, the National
Command Council, cabinet and the president carefully considered inputs from all
relevant sectors and experts in fields including financial, social, economic,
scientific and medical. Having done so, the decision was taken not to ease the
restrictions on the sale of alcohol during the lockdown,” the letter to the
forum read.
It added, emphatically: “The sale of alcohol is
self-evidently not an essential service. On this basis alone, it was considered
that the sale of alcohol should not be permitted. The sale and consumption of
alcohol also has proven links to an increase in violent crime, motor vehicle
accidents, medical emergencies and results in full emergency rooms and
hospitals.
“In the face of a pandemic such as Covid-19, the experience
of the rest of the world has shown us that hospitals need to be prepared to
receive and treat vast numbers of Covid-19 patients and to quarantine them from
non-infected patients.
“Prohibiting the sale of alcohol is also aimed at ensuring
compliance with the lockdown regulations, social distancing protocols and
proper hygiene practices by reducing or eliminating the number of intoxicated
persons, in light of experience of non-compliance by intoxicated persons in
general.”
The letter continued that, should the spread of Covid-19 —
the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus — not be curtailed, then it
was those the forum represented who would be hardest hit.
“In the absence of a lockdown, the worst effects of the
spread of Covid-19 are likely to be felt in those very sectors of society that
you claim to represent — those who live in the poorest conditions, without
access to sufficient resources — the most vulnerable in society. The lockdown
is aimed at preventing Covid-19 from ravaging those sectors of our society,”
the letter read.
It also addressed the forum's claims that their members
would be economically battered should the restrictions not be lifted, saying
that they were not unique in this regard.
“We further note your clients’ concerns in relation to the
economic impact of the lockdown on your clients’ businesses. However, the
economic impact of the lockdown is not felt only by your clients — but by all
industries which have been forced to close down for the duration of the
lockdown.
“This is a regrettable, but inevitable, consequence of a
lockdown,” the letter read.
Ramaphosa also urged the forum not to go to court, as was
initially threatened.
“We hope that before approaching the courts, your clients
will consider the global effect of this pandemic, particularly in densely
populated areas and the potentially devastating consequences it could have in a
country such as SA in the absence of a lockdown — and therefore to understand
the approach that government has chosen in these difficult and unprecedented
circumstances to protect all South Africans,” the letter reads.
Several attempts have been made to contact Eric Mabuza, who
is representing the Gauteng Liquor Forum. However, no response was received via
phone or text message. Times
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