Limpopo Liquor Act ruling: ‘Old licence’ traders may sell until 02:00
The 02:00 curfew will apply only to old licence holders while those applying for new licences after the change is made will have to cease sales at midnight.
POLOKWANE – The Limpopo High Court: Polokwane Division has ruled that liquor outlets may still trade until 02:00 under the repealed Liquor Act 27 of 1989.
The judgment was made earlier today in response to the Sekhukhune Liquor Traders Association (SLTA) and EFF Capricorn region’s interdict for the implementation of the Limpopo Liquor Act, which came into effect on August 1.
Read more: LISTEN: Limpopo High Court postpones Liquor Act interdict hearing
The two applicants stated that the new Act was “a recipe for revenue loss which has resulted in loss of employment in some cases”.
Termed the Midnight Law, the new law will among others, serve as a curfew for liquor traders across the province.
Citing reasons for the implementation of the Act, the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (Ledet) MEC, Rodgers Monama said the consumption of liquor has proved to be a causative factor in terms of community instability, and violence and abuse in homes across the province.
Read more: Lim Liquor Act’s Midnight Law gets backlash from industry
The ruling was welcomed with open arms, according to the SLTA chairperson Sello Legodi.
According to sources who attended today’s proceedings, the 02:00 curfew will only apply to old licence holders and that those applying for licences after the change is made, will have to cease sales at midnight.
The legal counsel for the department had argued that the circumstances were even, in that the traders could sell on Sundays as opposed to the Act of 1989, which made up for the two hours lost to traders on weekdays up to Saturday.
Ledet spokesperson Zaid Kalla said he reserved comment until the judgment is publicised.
This is a developing story.
