The Limpopo Liquor Traders association had filed an application for an interdict at the Polokwane High Court against the new Limpopo Liquor Act that had come into effect on August 1. This effort to call for the suspension and review of the Act in 2009 was heard in court on Tuesday and postponed to 18 Agust 2023
Among other regulations, the association had been particularly displeased with the prohibition on the sale of liquor after midnight. In a meeting held with Economic Development MEC, Rodgers Manama on July 24, they had cited, among other reasons, that the new act would negatively impact, in particular, the liquor sales industry, but also the performance arts industry.
At the time, the department had committed to reverting to concerns raised with a comprehensive response by the last Thursday, but had not done so by Wednesday morning, according to Limpopo Artists Movement’s Mpho Mashabela and Sekhukhune Liquor Traders Association’s Sello Mokwana.
Departmental spokesperson, Zaid Kalla, had earlier commented that the stakeholder participation period before the new law was implemented had dragged on for close to 14 years. Amid low participation by stakeholders, no one had indicated that they were against the proposal, he had indicated.
Among the reasons for the implementation of the new Act was the burden on hospitals in the province between midnight and 02:00. Health MEC, Dr. Phophi Ramathuba had indicated that casualty wards overflowed in this period, mostly because of liquor-related incidents.
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