MEC for the dedet, Mrs YN ''Pinky'' Phosa has urged the liquor board members to
pave the way for the province to win the war against those liquor outlets who
sell alcohol to children under the age of 18, to those who do not want to adhere
to trading hours and those who sell alcohol to school children.
Addressing
Liquor Board Members, MEC Phosa said, “The challenges of the current Liquor
Board and the incoming Liquor Authority will remain the same, except that the
Mpumalanga Liquor Authority (MLA) has got competency over the wide range of
issues than the current Liquor Board."
The incoming Mpumalanga Liquor Authority
needs to address the challenges faced by the liquor industry which includes
responsible trading of the liquor industry in the province; facilitate
intervention that encourages traders to operate formalised businesses, create
awareness and educate the general public on the harmful consequences of alcohol
abuse; and intervene on the establishment of tarvens or shebeens next to schools
or places of worship.
Accepting the inputs made by MEC, Mpumalanga Liquor Board
chairperson, Jabulane Matsane said, “Today’s engagement with the MEC is going to
pave the path towards ensuring that the Liquor Board contributes significantly
to the mandate of the Department."
“We have also set a tone for other provinces
by being the first Province to ban sale of alcohol on Sundays and we have been
regarded as the pro active Liquor board, in the country by the Department of
Trade and Industry,” said Mr Matsane.
“The Premier has also tasked the
Department to clamp liquor outlets that are next to schools or places of
worship; win the fight against illegal traders who often sell alcohol to school
children and pregnant women; and those who don’t adhere to trading hours,”
concluded MEC Pinky Phosa.
Thereafter, they proceeded to the hospital parking bays to wash a total of six
(6) hospital ambulances and pathology vans. The MEC encouraged the drivers to
keep ambulances clean at all times for hygenic purposes, and to ensure that the
Province perceived positively.
