Breaking: Government considering lifting ban on the sale of booze
- The government is reportedly considering relaxing the ban on the sale of booze
- The topic of the alcohol ban has come up in a number of high-level government meetings during the week
- The relaxing of the ban on booze has not been confirmed and it is not known what the sale of booze might look like when it does
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The National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) met on Wednesday and the topic of the alcohol ban came up.
Subsequently, the lifting of the booze ban was mentioned in several high-level government meetings according to News24.
On Saturday during a Nedlac meeting the lifting of the ban came up and it was decided that a resolution was needed on the matter, the financial impact on the economy a key feature.
Source: UGC
On Sunday another meeting took place, the Presidential Coordinating Council (PCC) and the topic of lockdown restrictions and the relaxation of some of them came up, including the lifting of the ban on booze.
However, Police Minister Beke Cele is in favour of the ban staying in place and he said that he would continue to enforce the ban as long as it is in place, even if it makes him unpopular.
Arabile Gumede, a financial journalist, has said that the curfew might be moved to 11pm and alcohol sales allowed during the week but this still has to be confirmed.
"Sources claim that curfew will be pushed back to 11pm while onsite alcohol consumption may be allowed for the entire week while offsite sales may be limited to 4 days of the week. (**TO BE CONFIRMED**)"
Earlier, Briefly.co.za reported that Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has now called upon President Cyril Ramaphosa to convene a special President's Coordinating Council meeting.
This request was contained in a letter sent to the President, detailing his proposals for some lockdown restriction amendments.
Among other things, Winde has called for the ban on beaches and public spaces to be lifted, the curfew amended and the sale of liquor for offsite consumption granted for certain days.
In other news, hundreds of people swarmed Muizenberg beach in protest of the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions which forbid people gathering in groups and visiting beaches.
Cape Town authorities are attempting to send the crowds home; their efforts are taking longer than anticipated.
Some of the protestors took to the water to swim and surf in direct violation of the lockdown rules which came into effect 10 months ago.
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Source: Briefly News
