SAB trucks seized transporting alcohol
Seven employees were arrested transporting cases of liquor .
South African Breweries (SAB) says it operated within the law when it delivered alcohol during the national lockdown.
Seven employees of the brewery were arrested on Wednesday in Silverton in trucks full of alcohol at SAB’s Waltloo depot
The selling and transportation of liquor was banned during the lockdown announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa to fight the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
According to the Gauteng government’s Facebook post, a manager and the truck drivers were among those arrested
In a statement, the company said the alcohol being moved was inventory being transported to its storage facility.
“Our warehouse storage capacity at the breweries had reached permissible limits,” it said.
“The alcohol seized was not for sale or distribution and was always in SAB’s possession.”
It said the movement of the alcohol from its seven breweries was specifically provided for in the lockdown regulations.
“And in particular Regulation 11 B 4A of Chapter 2. This pre-approved plan is aimed at ensuring the safety of our employees, the communities around our operations, the environment and our inventory.
“We have since engaged both the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the police to clarify our orderly wind-down measures and have subsequently shared all requisite approvals and permits.”
The brewery said it assured the government and the public that it was not in contravention of the law, and takes seriously the President’s call to lock down the country to safeguard our people’s health and wellness.
“We are committed to complying with the Disaster Management Act and the lockdown regulations,” the statement read.
“As an organisation we are here to play our part not only in fighting the pandemic, but in protecting the wellbeing of our communities, our employees, and our contributions towards the economy.”
It said Bowmans and its internal legal counsel were assisting the arrested employees.
Police spokesperson Brigidier Vish Naidoo said the police would not provide a “blow-by-blow” account of their Covid-19 operations.
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