Act stirs emotions, not Martinis
Don’t lift your glasses for a toast yet. The cherry, giving liquor stores the green light to operate on Sundays and public holidays, has not been added to the cocktail yet.
On Friday, September 12 the Act stirring emotions, not a Martini or two, will be put under the magnifying glass in Nelspruit during a sitting of the Provincial Liquor Board, the Department of Justice and the SAPS Provincial office.
The new Act will allow liquor stores to open their doors from 10:00 up to 17:00 on Sundays and public holidays.
There are those who give this a big cheer, but for the South African National Council on Alcoholism (Sanca) this not going down very well.
“We are not happy at all. Alcohol abuse is one of the largest contributors to death,” said Ms Zodwa Mzondo, SANCA.
When one mentions alcohol you involuntarily think of accidents, and that is one thing eMalahleni is renowned for. This is not to say all accidents were caused by alcohol abuse.
Between January 1 and September 9 an alarming 3 771 accidents were reported at Witbank Police Station alone. That does not include Vosman, Blinkpan or Kriel police stations.
Readers had mixed feelings about this news.
“Eish, bad,” Miss Loretta Potgieter Brits commented on the Witbank News Facebook.
Hendrik Smit called it “Pathetic.”
“Best new dz jst made my week,” commented Marcia Khoza. Mavuiso and Rodney Mutshotsho agreed with her and commented, “I’m loving this”.
