PRETORIA, Feb 25 (NNN-BUANEWS) — South Africa’s Gauteng province, which includes the country’s biggest city, Johannesburg, has set up special measures to ensure that the Liquor Board awards licences in time for the 2010 Fifa World Cup beginning on June 11.

“Part of the strategy is to focus on limiting trading in the vicinity of schools, places of worship and irresponsible trading in dense residential areas,” provincial Executive Council member (MEC) for Economic Development Firoz Cachalia said on Wednesday.

Cachalia said the Board would also address backlogs in licensing, improve revenue collections and eliminate fraud and illegal licenses.

This will be a relief for organizers or owners of any public viewing event who will sell liquor during the soccer spectacular, especially following this week’s confusion on the special liquor licence for the World Cup.

The draft liquor control policy, which recently caused an outcry from liquor sellers, which was gazetted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), stated that any “public viewing event” where matches are broadcast to the “general public or otherwise” will need the liquor licence.

Media reports claiming that organizers or owners of any public viewing event of the world cup would have to pay 50,000 Rand (one USD = about 7.88 Rand) for a special liquor licence caused an upheaval.

In setting the record straight, DTI Deputy Director-General for the Consumer and Corporate Regulation Division, Zodwa Ntuli, said those holding valid liquor licences were not required to obtain an additional special liquor licence.

Cachalia said the proper review of the Gauteng liquor policy and legislation was also underway. This would involve consultation of stakeholders in the liquor industry. “The short term deliverables of this strategy focus on improving service delivery, compliance as well as enforcement.” — NNN-BUANEWS

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