Ramaphosa beer ban: President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa has refused to lift the liquor ban as he called alcohol ‘not’ essential.
Ramaphosa response to Gauteng Liquor Forum
Ramaphosa promised to respond to the Gauteng Liquor Forum by Friday end of day about their application to have beer included as an essential product. The Gauteng Liquor Forum argued that businesses that are in the liquor industry need to survive the lockdown period.
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Ramaphosa response to alcohol ban
President Ramaphosa informed South Africans and the Gauteng Liquor Forum through a letter to the forum. He made it clear that the government’s priority is not to lift services that are not essential. Ramaphosa made it clear that the government is facing a difficult time and a dedicated and uninterrupted response is the best way to deal with the situation.
“During the discussions held this week, the National Command Council, cabinet and the president carefully considered inputs from all relevant sectors and experts in fields including financial, social, economic, scientific and medical. Having done so, the decision was taken not to ease the restrictions on the sale of alcohol during the lockdown,” the letter to the forum read.
Western Cape government decision to lift beer ban
Earlier on when the lockdown started on 26 March 2020, the Western Cape government decided to lift the liquor ban and classified alcohol as an essential product. The move angered Police Minister Bheki Cele who swiftly reigned in the provincial government and told them they could not make their own arrangements that are in conflict with the national government regulations.
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Ramaphosa liquor ban bad news for South Africans
The beer ban by Ramaphosa is likely to spark another round of looting. The news comes as South Africans hoped the President would ease the beer restrictions as he is easing the restrictions in other industries. Yesterday the Minister of Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma announced that the government added other services as essential services such as electrical works and plumbing. She also added that companies that manufacture water tanks and involved in other related business could resume operations. Dlamini-Zuma also told South Africa that the lockdown restrictions would be eased every week as the country recovers from covid-19.
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