The Limpopo department of economic development, environment and tourism (Ledet), will table the new Limpopo Liquor Bill before the legislature later this year.
The Limpopo Liquor Board falls under the jurisdiction of Ledet.
The proposed bill followed a long process since 2007, when the Limpopo Liquor Bill was Gazetted for the first time.
After being referred to the national cabinet last year for inputs, the bill was published again for inputs by stakeholders and other parties.
It is expected that the bill will be finalised by November, says Deon Pelser, senior manager of liquor affairs at Ledet.
The current Liquor Board, with Adv Phuti Rammutla as chairperson, will be kept in place until the bill is enacted, where after a new board will be constituted.
The Liquor Board consists of five members of which two are public servants, appointed by the MEC for Ledet, who serves as chairperson and deputy chairperson respectively. One member is nominated by the SAPS and two other members are stakeholders that are appointed by the MEC.
The board members are appointed for a period of two years.
“There are no serious deviations from the Liquor Act, Act 27 of 1989 and amendments in the Limpopo Liquor Act,” says Pelser in an interview with Review.
“Some definitions have been broadened. The main addition is the distance of 500 meters that liquor outlets have to be from schools and churches or places of worship.
This, however, is at the discretion of the community where the liquor outlet is situated.
They will be consulted and will have a say in where licences will be granted.
This rule might be difficult to enforce in very small villages.
The interest of the community will have precedence,” he explains.
All provinces have to develop their own Liquor Act and the national act will only be valid in cases of produce over and above a certain amount.
Currently liquor licences have to be obtained for licensed premises such as hotels, restaurants, wine-houses, theatres and clubs.
Off-licence premises include wholesale liquor outlets, brewers, grocers, liquor stores, wine farmers and other producers.
