TAVERN owners and patrons are not happy that they will not have enough time to enjoy themselves or make a good profit.
This is because the Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism department (LEDET) has cut liquor trading hours effective from Tuesday, 1 August.
The department has issued an act that all liquor traders will have to close at a midnight across Limpopo, citing that booze contributes to gender-based violence, child abuse, community instability, trauma incidents, rape and various other sexual misconduct.
Now all nightclubs, taverns, shebeens and liquor restaurants will be brought to a standstill by midnight from Monday to Sunday.
Tavern owners are gatvol that this will affect their businesses badly. Others said their businesses will crumble as they are trying to recover from the Covid-19 lockdown.
Patrons are also complaining that they won't have enough time to enjoy themselves.
Samma’s Liquor Tavern owner, Quiden Mathebula, told Daily Sun that the government is killing their businesses.
ALSO READ : GOOD news: Govt can increase R350 Sassa grant to 'R999'!
Mathebula said the department did not consult them.
“Crime happens everywhere at any time and the department should not hide behind that.
“They should focus on serious crimes and leave us alone. Our job is to help customers relieve stress. If they force us to close at 12am, they should at least allow us to open at 8am,” he said.
Fify Liquor Restaurant’s Harry Makoti said this will affect their businesses. “The responsibility lies with the customer.
"Reducing trading hours won’t affect the social ills we are facing but if the government thinks otherwise, then what can we do?” he said.
Other owners said this would open doors to other chancers to start their counterfeit alcohol businesses. Tumelo Masenya said they won’t have enough time to enjoy themselves.
“We don’t know how the department came up with this act and why it is affecting Limpopo only. It’s like we are back to lockdown,” he said.
LEDET spokesman Zaid Kalla said MEC Rodgers Monama has indicated that the midnight law will be implemented without fail.
“The department needs to play a critical role in reducing alcohol abuse and support moderate home drinking as opposed to unsafe nightlife within various drinking outlets, which continues to serve people alcohol during hours beyond midnight,” said Kalla.
