No vaccine for poverty, talk of a booze ban not sitting well with our members
25 May 2021 1:44 PM
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Ministerial Advisory Council head of vaccines Prof Schoub says we need to look at restrictions to stop third wave momentum.
Head of the Ministerial Advisory Council (MAC) on vaccines, Professor Barry Schoub, tells Mandy Wiener that South Africa is in an increasing trajectory of Covid-19 infections.
National Liquor Traders Council convener Lucky Ntimane also says they are worried about rumours of an alcohol ban.
Schoub says the Northern Cape is in the third wave of the pandemic. He adds that looking at that data matrix, nationally the country is heading into a third wave.
SA liquor industry scrambles to avoid another ban on alcohol sales
By Siphelele Dludla
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JOHANNESBURG - THE SOUTH African liquor industry has warned the government of the potential negative impact on economic recovery and jobs if another ban on the sale of alcohol is imposed.
Fears within the industry have been growing since three provinces officially declared a third wave of Covid-19 infections, as this could prompt the government to implement stricter lockdown measures.
The tavern sector is worth over R60 billion annually, accounting for 80 – 90 percent of liquor sales in townships, and approximately 43 percent of total alcohol sales.
A coalition of liquor traders has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa seeking his audience to help find sustainable solutions to combat the pandemic without banning alcohol.
As vaccinations continue, Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize on Monday announced 2 383 new cases of Covid-19 in SA and 72 new fatalities, bringing the total death toll to 55 874. This followed an announcement of over 4 200 new cases on Saturday. No vaccine for poverty We ve already had a total of 20 weeks of alcohol bans and many of our members have been forced to close their doors forever as a result, Lucky Ntimane, convenor of the National Liquor Traders Council, said in a statement. It will take some of these families generations to climb back out of poverty, and there is no vaccine for poverty.
NCCC Alcohol Ban and Tighter Lockdown Latest: Meeting on Tuesday We’ve already had 20 weeks of alcohol bans and many members have been forced to close their doors forever - Tavern owners on NCCC decisions
South African bottle stores and tavern owners have pleaded with the government not to push them into poverty with yet another alcohol ban ahead of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) on Tuesday if the country moves to Level 2 Lockdown soon.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s acting spokesperson Tyrone Seale told The South African that the NCC was holding a meeting on Tuesday.
Asked whether the NCC would discuss lockdown restrictions at the meeting Seale said: “The NCCC is meeting today as part of its regular meetings. The agenda always focuses on the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Seale said.
Another alcohol ban will kill us, say tavern owners Fears of restrictions as Covid-19 third wave looms 25 May 2021 - 08:29
Tavern owners fear that the next restriction on alcohol trade as a means to curb the rising spread of Covid-19 could put them out of business for good.
The National Liquor Traders Council, which represents liquor traders nationwide including taverns, has asked for a meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa amid rising Covid-19 infections and the looming third wave of the pandemic.
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