“Don’t kill poor black businesses”: BOSA Sedibeng

SEBOKENG. – Build One South Africa (BOSA) Sedibeng Regional Council has made a call to the government to allow tavern, shebeen, and pub owners to run their businesses without any hindrance.

Through its leader in Sedibeng, Ernest Nkopane, BOSA said that the current amendment to the national liquor policy is to the despair of many, who used to be owners of these businesses. Nkopane said that in reality, most of the reasons provided for such red tapes have lapsed and that is if they were ever of importance in the first place.

“To this date, I am struggling to understand how liquor licensing in South Africa protects the population in any way. Taking our minds back in memory lane, the heritage and legacy of black-owned local alcohol outlets (shebeen, taverns, and pubs), raised the vast majority of academics here in South Africa, particularly in Gauteng, and here in Sedibeng (Vaal) Region,” said Nkopane.

He added that as Build One South Africa (BOSA) they are worried that the government seems to have deliberately been turning a blind eye, to what he says, is a controversial matter, that is if you compare it with the current state of foreign-owned ‘spaza shops’ that continue to operate, even though it is common course that majority are not complying, they still operate as if it is ‘business as usual’.

“What you do on the left, you must also do on the right. In order to balance probabilities of any nature, we cannot support a piece of legislation that kills poor black businesses and jobs in our townships, and we call upon all patrons and the community in general to support this program.”

• BOSA Sedibeng has called a meeting this week, for all tavern, shebeen, and pub owners of businesses that have been closed because of non-compliance. The meeting will be held at Sing’s Lounge in Zone 11, Sebokeng on November 18 at 12:00. For more details contact Ernest at 060 492 2699