Gauteng Liquor Board tightens rules on expired liquor licences from April
Stricter regulations on liquor license expirations are set to take effect, making it difficult for businesses to restore licenses that have lapsed and requiring some owners to reapply.
From 1 April 2026, the Gauteng Liquor Board (GLB) will no longer accept applications to restore expired licenses.
If a license remains lapsed beyond the 60-day grace period, license holders will be required to submit a completely new application.
According to GLB spokesperson Cleo Modibe-Lushaba, the board has discontinued the restoration process entirely, even in cases where medical reasons were previously provided.
She says the process created several administrative and legal challenges for the board.
Under the new regulations, license holders who renew 30 days after the expiry date will face a 50% penalty fee, while those who renew 60 days after expiry will be required to pay a 100% penalty fee.
"To use Taverns as an example, currently it is 5,000. If you get to the 1st of April, after a month you haven't paid, you won't be paying R5,000 any longer, but 2,500 extra. Should we get to 60 days and you haven't paid, you would then pay double, which will be R10,000 in this case," said Modibe-Lushaba.
Democratic Alliance Mike Moriarty has previously raised concerns that a backlog in the issuing and renewal of licenses by the GLB could lead to job losses.
However, Modibe-Lushaba clarified that the delays were not caused by the board’s administration but rather by incomplete applications and missing documentation from applicants.
She acknowledged that a backlog does exist, but explained that it is often misunderstood because the licensing process involves several required stages.
"Someone has applied for a legal license. Usually, we give 90 days to allow all processes to fall into place. One of the processes is the first month of the 21 days to make sure that if there are people who want to object in your area. The second month, that's where I inspect us, go to your place, see if you are in on consumption, and do you have approved facilities. And of course, then, you know, by the time we get to 90 days, usually we can say our processes are all done, and we can then issue the license, whether it is declined or approved, but then we can say we've considered the application."
Modibe-Lushaba also encouraged applicants to use the board’s online services for both new applications and renewals, saying the system helps reduce queues and saves time.
Applicants can submit their forms online, make payments via EFT, and send proof of payment to allow the board to process their applications more efficiently.
ALSO READ
