Eastern Cape wants reinstatement of alcohol ban
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa to request the coronavirus command council to reinstate the ban on alcohol sales.
Mabuyane’s spokesperson Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha says there has been a sharp rise in lockdown violations since the reopening of bottle stores and liquor shops on June 1.
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"We have seen people intoxicated, walking in the streets without masks, not social distancing and we have seen people having house parties in the province, violating regulations.
"We are requesting the prohibition of trade and distribution of alcohol because we have seen cases of alcohol abuse resulting in road accidents and drunk driving.”
This comes amid warnings of a looming spike in Covid-19 infections in the Eastern Cape.
To date the province has 6341 confirmed cases and 127 deaths.
Sicwetsha says the provincial government is of the opinion that the reinstatement of the ban on alcohol sales will reduce the rate of infection.