A forum representing about 20 000 micro and small businesses in Gauteng has written to the President demanding that the total ban on alcohol sales be lifted – or face a court challenge, says a Mail & Guardian report.

The Gauteng Liquor Forum said in its letter, that the lockdown regulations breach their members’ constitutional right to choose their trade, occupation or profession freely.

The letter reads: ‘Since the declaration of the national State of Disaster on 15 March 2020, our clients’ businesses have been gravely affected by the prohibition on a total ban of selling of alcohol. The extension of the lockdown period… will most likely ruin their businesses. They do not have access to other means of surviving, while the lockdown continues.’

The letter, from Mabuza Attorneys on behalf of the forum, said a limitation on their clients’ trading hours would have been readily accepted.

But the total ban is ‘unreasonable and it has no rational connection to the mischief which is sought to be prevented’.

‘Unless we receive (a) written undertaking from the Honourable President by no later than 12h00 on Tuesday 14 April 2020 (today), our clients will have no option but to approach court on (an) urgent basis for appropriate relief,’ said the letter.

It said that public statements from ‘senior members of Cabinet’ suggested the alcohol ban was ‘being used to achieve ends which are not related to combatting Covid-19’.

The M&G report notes the letter does not refer to any specific public statements but Police Minister Bheki Cele has been vocal about how the alcohol ban has led to decreased crime levels.

Full Mail & Guardian report

The President has been urged to ignore calls from the Liquor Forum.

Parliament's chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, said people who consume alcohol predispose themselves to become drunk, notes a report on the IoL site.

‘A person who is under the influence of alcohol has a poor sense of judgment for the environment, space and time. This lockdown period does not need people who have poor sense of judgment.’

Dhlomo said the committee commends Cyril Ramaphosa on the banning of alcohol sales during the lockdown period.

‘The President should not give those who want to sell alcohol space to do so as that might predispose them to being exposed to the pandemic.’

Political parties, including the EFF and COPE, have made it clear they oppose the lifting of the ban.

Full report on the IoL site

Meanwhile, the looting of bottle stores is taking on worrying proportions.

Police Minister Bheki Cele has commended the swift arrest of 21 suspects allegedly behind 16 incidents of liquor store looting in the Western Cape since the start of the nationwide lockdown, says a News24 report.

The Police Ministry said in a statement that 21 suspects had been arrested related to these incidents, with four of them connected to the first incident at a Shoprite liquor store in Langa, Cape Town, during the first weekend of lockdown.

The Minister has also noted with concern the alleged involvement of police members in some of the liquor-related crimes during the lockdown,’ police spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters said.

Two warrant officers from the Delft unit in the Western Cape have since been arrested along with a liquor store manager and a cashier in Strand following a tip-off.

Full News24 report