Government says South African Breweries (SAB) is seemingly offering potential liquor licence holders fridges as well as apparently supplying them with liquor to sell before the liquor licence is acquired. SAB says they do not sell liquor to unlicensed shebeens and taverns and any allegations to that effect will be defended.

This issue emerged when the Limpopo Liquor Board, which resides under the provincial Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (Ledet), received complaints from the South African Police Force (SAPF), substantiating these allegations.

Ledet Spokesperson Mr Joshua Kwapa said as a result, the department, together with the SAPF, staged an operation intended to investigate the matter. “Currently, we cannot confirm the number of perpetrators and fridges that have been confiscated; the matter is pre-judice since some of the cases are still pending for appearance before Court."

Unofficial figures leaked to LiN News by a source involved in the operation indicates that at least 20 fridges allegedly supplied by and belonging to SAB have been confiscated and more than R100 000 worth of fines have been issued to persons allegedly selling liquor whilst their licence applications are pending.

SAB Media Relations Manager Mr Benedict Maaga says SAB has a fairly complex sales system that records all sales transactions to the minutest detail. “It is impossible to sell alcohol to anyone or to any organisation that is not registered on our SAP system and no unlicensed taverns or shebeens are registered on our system,” he says.

LiN News is in possession of an affidavit in which a shebeen owner states: “I certify that I was selling liquor. I make (made) an application for selling liquor. I am waiting for the approval from (the) Liquor Board. In the meantime I was selling liquor when the police arrested me. The liquor that I was selling was delivered to me by the brewery”. Another affidavit states that: “I’m still waiting for the permission to sell liquor but I was selling liquor… I have fridges, two of them, one belong(s) to me and another one delivered by brewery”.

Kwapa further says it is the duty of government, business and society to ensure that if they happen to see any illegal trading taking place, they should notify the Liquor Board or the police. “We would like to remind people that it is illegal to sell liquor without a licence, even if an application has been made. There is no backlog of applications as the Liquor Board sits twice a month to consider applications,” Kwapa added.

Maaga said SAB maintains their commitment to working with government and the authorities and will remove any marketing support (for example fridges) for shebeens identified by the SAPF as contributors to high crime and illegal activities in any particular area. (LiN News / Polokwane Observer)