By Thabo Monyela
LIMPOPO- The National Liquor Traders have turned to the Polokwane high court to interdict the Limpopo government from imposing a ban on alcohol sales after midnight.
The National liquor board filed an urgent court application on Friday, July 28 to stop the Limpopo Government from implementing a new bill which will see the liquor outlets close by midnight in the province.
In its attempt to seek relief on an urgent basis, the liquor board has given the Provincial Government until Monday, 31 July at 5 PM to indicate whether they oppose their review application.
Speaking to ENCA news on Friday, the National Liquor Traders convener Lucky Ntimane said if the government will oppose their review application, they will meet in Polokwane’s High Court on the 08 of August 2023.
The MEC for LEDET Rodgers Monama announced that as of the 1st of August 2023, all liquor outlets in Limpopo will operate until midnight, during his Nelson Monday day address in Modimolle.
Monama’s new liquor bill which will cut the trading hours by 2 hours earlier has ruffled the feathers of both the Liquor traders and Limpopo artists.
“The department never negotiated with us in good faith and the liquor traders are unfairly treated and the provincial government want to destroy black businesses,” Ntimane said.
Ntimane further said the implementation of the bill will create more market for unlicensed alcohol traders, who will undoubtedly sell for the whole night and subsequently destroy their market.
