Presidency denies ‘looming booze ban’
The Office of the Presidency has moved to rubbish reports of an imminent ban on the sale of alcohol.
This comes after several claims surfaced on social media claiming that President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on Tuesday evening, where he will reinstate alcohol ban.
But the Restaurant Association’s CEO Wendy Alberts says she has it on good authority that there is no truth to the rumours.
“We have spoken to a very high source in the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) and they have confirmed that the rumours on the booze ban are not true, the President Cyril Ramaphosa is not addressing the nation and that any of these voice notes that are circulating must be treated with extreme caution.”
Alberts warns against fear mongering during this time.
“I don’t know why someone would purposely go and make an irresponsible rumour that brings further hardship, uncertainty and panic into our country,” she adds.
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Mbalula: Booze laws need to be reviewed
Mbalula says he believes the curtailing the sale of booze will help prevent the carnage on the country's roads. "There is easy access of alcohol, people are out of control in terms of alcohol. We must now put our heads together. "When it's time for government to act nobody can say government is being unfair.
Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu also rushed to put out the fires with a tweet also denying the claims.
It’s not true that President @CyrilRamaphosa will address the nation tonight . It equally not true that the NCCC/Cabinet has taken a decision to disallow the sale of alcohol . This is all #fakenews .
— Minister Jackson Mthembu (@JacksonMthembu_) August 25, 2020
The ban on the sale of alcohol has only recently been lifted under level 2.
Since then, police have arrested scores of people for flouting lockdown regulations.
Three metro cops also died in Tshwane at the weekend after a high-speed chase with a drunk driver.