Joburg North residents flock to bottle stores amid closure concerns

JOBURG NORTH – Despite government's assurances that the ban would not be reinstated, bottle stores in Joburg were bustling with those buying booze - just in case.

August 25, 2020

Aimee McGill 1 minute read

A fake message doing the rounds on social media today, 25 August, had Joburg North residents in a flurry.

The voice-note suggested that president Cyril Ramaphosa would announce the reinstatement of alcohol ban tonight. Minister in the Presidency of South Africa, Jackson Mthembu has bashed rumours of a possible reinstatement on Twitter.

It’s not true that President @CyrilRamaphosa will address the nation tonight . It equally not true that the NCCC/Cabinet has taken a decision to disallow the sale of alcohol . This is all #fakenews .

— Minister Jackson Mthembu (@JacksonMthembu_) August 25, 2020

Several readers contacted Caxton Local Media’s Joburg North office today to confirm the legitimacy of the information. Despite government’s assurances that the ban would not be reinstated, bottle stores in Joburg were bustling with those buying booze – just in case. Many were not trusting of Government’s assurances that the ban would not be reinstated.

One reader said that she had visited two bottle stores in the hopes of buying just a bottle of brandy for her Christmas cakes, but after seeing the long lines of people waiting outside, had opted not to.