SEBOKENG.- If the current situation in South Africa persists, with the lockdown level 3 preventing liquor traders operating their businesses, owners will not be able to financially recover enough to ever open again.

While earlier allowing the sale of alcohol, albeit with limitations on level 3, President Cyril Ramaphosa rescinded and closed the sales with immediate effect some three weeks ago. But now local tavern owners are urging Ramaphosa to open up the market as they are losing thousands of rands on a daily basis.
One of those that have raised their voices over the closure of the liquor sales is Apollo’s Tavern Owner from Zone 12 in Sebokeng, Apollo Sandamela.

Sandamela says that the closure has cost businesses thousands of rands. Compounded also with the halting of cigarettes sales, Sandamela says that he alone has lost business up to R 70 000 in the weeks that the lockdown on sales of liquor was implemented.

“We are in serious trouble and some of us will never be able to come back from this as most do not have a ‘reserve tank’. Liquor is sold on a black market by people who have no clue about this business. If the President is saying he was doing this for COVID-19, he should have by now realized that his plan is futile. The same is also happening with cigarettes, foreigners are making a killing while we, the citizens of this country remain oppressed,” said Sandamela angrily.
Most liquor traders take stock at credit from their suppliers and then pay after making sales, they then remain with the profit.
President Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation later this week after consultations with the National COVID-19 Council Command, many expect that some of the stringent measures will be lifted.