Too few inspectors to enforce liquor laws
There was "little chance" that Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane's promise to crack down on illegal liquor traders would happen soon, the Democratic Alliance said on Wednesday, 13 April 2011.
DA Gauteng spokesperson Jack Bloom said there were 26 inspectors to assess whether 8000 liquor outlets in Gauteng complied with the Gauteng Liquor Act.
He discovered this on an unannounced visit to the Gauteng Liquor Board in Johannesburg.
"It will be a daunting task to inspect all these outlets to enforce compliance," Bloom said.
He said 6000 outlets had applied for the conversion of their existing licences under the old legislation. Another 2000 licence holders had failed to apply for conversion and were illegal.
"They also face a legal minefield as the Gauteng Liquor Act is badly drafted and there are many court challenges," he said. Bloom said it appeared that the banning of liquor sales within 500m of a school or church would be difficult to enforce.
More than 2000 existing licence holders had traded legally for years and "it may well be unconstitutional to take their existing rights away even though they are near a school or church".
Source: Sapa
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