Gauteng shebeens, bottle stores to limit hours to curb Covid-19
The Gauteng provincial government has moved to limit the hours in which shebeens, taverns, bottle stores and other alcohol distributors are allowed to operate.
Premier David Makhura and provincial MEC's, who are part of the provincial command council set up to deal with coronavirus, briefed the media in Midrand on Wednesday on measures to curb the rapid spread of the virus.
The country’s economic hub has been the hardest hit with the number of positive cases standing at 61 on Wednesday.
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Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko said the liquor board has given her an assurance that there will be compliance by tavern and shebeen owners.
"Those that serve liquor, whether you are a shebeen or tavern, must make sure they do not exceed the number of 50 patrons at a time. And they have agreed that the distribution and consumption of liquor weekdays shall be ended at 18:00. Saturdays and Sundays the bottle stores will adhere to their normal working time of 13:00.”
A process is underway to promulgate the new regulations so that it can be enforced and monitored by the police.