Limpopo Department of Health welcomes new Liquor Act
Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba said they expect the Act to have the same impact as in Covid-times when outlets closed earlier and liquor-related crimes reduced.
POLOKWANE – The restriction of liquor consumption in South Africa has proven effective in the reduction of road deaths at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, and this is the main reason the Department of Health welcomes the newly implemented Limpopo Liquor Act.
Read more: New law will prevent liquor trading after midnight in Limpopo
The new Act will undoubtedly assist in clearing the orthopaedics backlog currently experienced in the province.
This is according to Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba when questioned about the impact difference that a reduction of trading hours in the sale of liquor will potentially have, given that residents would instead opt to buy in bulk, consume their liquor earlier and still commit the same activities.
The Economic Development Department implemented the now controversial law on August 1.
It permits the sale of liquor on Sundays between 09:00 and 17:00, as opposed to the previous law.
Read more: Lim Liquor Act’s Midnight Law gets backlash from industry
While the Sekhukhune Liquor Traders Association, supported by performing artists have sought to interdict the implementation of the Act, and was due in court on Tuesday to support how the Act will affect their industry, Ramathuba said a recent survey shows that road fatalities especially on the R71 occur after midnight.
Read more: LISTEN: Limpopo High Court postpones Liquor Act interdict hearing
“Just as in Covid-times when outlets closed earlier and liquor-related crimes were reduced, we expect the Act should have the same impact. We have a burden of patients that require orthopaedic operations and often these come as the result of a vehicle in which someone was driving under the influence,” she mentioned.
Meanwhile, last Monday, Economic Development released a statement that announced additions to the Act, “which were previously not clearly defined”, a statement reads.
Among these was the appeal tribunal aspect that seemingly responded to the decision to freeze the Act.
The statement said the Act expects that “whenever a licence holder or applicants is aggrieved by a decision of the Liquor Board, instead of approaching the courts, they can freely utilise the services of the Appeal Tribunal. The Appeal Tribunal is an independent body”.
