Liquor Licenses requirements are unfair: Monyetla
“The list does not make sense as to why liquor traders have to be subjected to such remarkable and difficult processes."
SEDIBENG. The newly formed Monyetla Liquor Traders Association (MOLTA) has said that it demands to know, how much it costs to obtain a liquor license.
The organisation, was formed last year due to what its members said was a prevailing ‘economic segregation’ within the liquor industry, which has a negative impact socially in Gauteng and ultimately in the Sedibeng region.
Mantoa Mokhethi, MOLTA Chairlady said that while there is absolutely no definitive answer to the question above, there’s foul play to enrich ghost beneficiaries in the form of different entities that benefit from this unjustified process, although we understand that all applications differ in requirements and cost associated.
“The time has come for the Gauteng Liquor Board and the National Liquor Authority to review the current list of requirements when lodging compliance applications for liquor licenses to accommodate township trade for the poor entrepreneurs who are burdened by poverty, unemployment to put food on the table for their families.”
Mokhethi further said that the application process and ballooned fees associated with the process to compile the supporting documents as required is a deliberate demoralising exercise and mostly unjustified.
“The list does not make sense as to why liquor traders have to be subjected to such remarkable and difficult processes. Much as we encourage our members to comply, we also realised why the majority of traders are not able to do so and this seems like the list was intentionally compiled to deprive liquor traders of an opportunity, with a mandate to unlawfully reduce the number of outlets in the townships. As an association, we will not allow that to happen under our watch.”
Mokhethi ended by saying that MOLTA is aware of the outcry of alleged abuse of alcohol and as an association, they recommend the return of charges such as public drinking and loitering to try and deal with any form of alleged misbehaviour or abuse of alcohol as alleged, including enforcing curfew for responsible use of alcohol in Gauteng since such seems to be a bone of contention by those with vested interests to destroy the liquor trader’s industry.
