The Gauteng Liquor Board (GLB) has wasted R1.512m on 25 court cases. Of these, 21 were lost and four settled.

According to Vaalweekblad, this was revealed by MEC for Economic Development Lebogang Maile, in reply to a written question by DA MPL and Shadow MEC for Economic Development Mike Moriarity.

These cases were brought against the GLB by desperate applicants for licences who experienced unnecessary delays by the GLB.

These delays are severely affecting numerous businesses across the province, some of which are forced to trade illegally, while others have delayed their operations, resulting in job losses.

This has led to businesses taking the GLB to court.

“It is unacceptable that the GLB fails to process liquor licence applications within standard timeframes. This demonstrates a lack of management and supervision within the entity.

“The sluggish pace of approving liquor licences is not only inconveniencing business owners who wish to sell alcohol from their premises but also opens the door to corruption,” Moriarity says.

According to him, the DA Gauteng has over the past few months interacted with numerous stakeholders who indicated they are forced to either go to court to have their applications approved or pay bribes to officials to speed up the process.

“This is why even more taxpayers’ money now needs to be spent on a commission of inquiry to root out corruption — funds that could have been used to improve the GLB’s operations.”

The DA claims a DA Gauteng-led provincial government will ensure that liquor licence applications are processed within standard timelines and that there is no room for corruption at the GLB.

Where reports of attempted bribery are received, the DA says it will act immediately. Disciplinary action will be concluded within 90 days, and the official will not be allowed to work in government again.

This, the DA says, is further evidence that Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s government is failing the people of Gauteng.

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