The Western Cape Shebeen Association (WCSA) has successfully introduced its groundbreaking initiative Restrictive Licensing System (RLS) in the Khayelitsha township in Cape Town. The result has been as reduction of more than 50% in shebeen – related crime. The Souh African Liquor Traders Association(SALTA), through it’s president and CEO, Mr Saint Madlala, has mandated the WCSA to represent its members in all negotiations with role players.

Mr Mauritz Rossouw, the CEO of the WCSA, will meet with executives of major role players in the liquor industry, as well as Premier Helen Zille, before the end of April, to discuss the implementation of the RLS throughout the Western Cape Province. Because of its successful implementation, plans include the implementation of the RLS in other provinces in due course.

Tavern owners in Kimberley have vowed to snub the Northern Cape's new provincial Liquor Act, which prevents them from selling liquor after midnight. The Act, which was introduced in the Western Cape last year, came into effect in the Northern Cape last night. Although the Act is intended to curb escalating rates of rape and murder, the Provincial Liquor Traders Association (NCLTA) says it will force some of them to close shop. NCLTA spokesperson Afrika Cindi says they are opposed to this new law because it will cripple their income. Cindi says business start to peak from 11pm and if asked to close at 12pm it will be a serious blow to their businesses. The Northern Cape liquor board says there is little they can do about tavern owners' dissatisfaction regarding the Act. The Act states that no shebeen, tavern, liquor store or outlet will operate beyond midnight. Economic Affairs spokesperson Lesego Letebele says the Act was approved by the former Premier Dipuo Peters in 2008 and license holders were given a chance to object to it and they did not. He says tavern owners can appeal but not immediately. Galeshewe police spokesperson Tony Modise says they support the idea of tavern closing at midnight especially after brutal killings of six women who were leaving local taverns after midnight. Cindi says crime can be committed at anytime and it not necessarily alcohol related (Article from www.sabcnews.co.za).

In terms of a notice in the Government Gazette, it was determined that the national Liquor Act ( 27 of 1989) ceased to operate in the Northern Cape Province with effect from 1 April 2010, and that the Northern Cape Liquor Act 2 of 2008 came into operation on 1 April 2010 to regulate any matter related to liquor in the Northern Cape Province, with effect from 1 April 2010.

We will keep you up to date with comments from leading authors and the public on the interpretation and implementation of the new Liquor Act.

NEW HELPLINE FOR LICENSED AND UNLICENSED BUSINESSES - LEGAL LIQUOR SERVICES A new 24h helpline has been launched to assist both licenced and unlicensed businesses when unexpectedly confronted by authorities or other persons regarding the legality of their business/licences. For a fee of R100 per month, this seems like a service which both licensed and unlicensed businesses have been asking for, as most licensing emergencies occur after normal working hours, when assistance(legal or otherwise) is mostly impossible to obtain. VISIT THEIR BLOG AT WWW.LIQUORASSIST.CO.ZA