Ramaphosa requests Gauteng Liquor Forum to delay court action

Ramaphosa, through the office of the state attorney, said he would respond to the letter written to him by the forum after a meeting of the Covid-19 command council.

"The Presidency and other stakeholders will be meeting to discuss the details of government's economic assistance program," the letter to the forum says.

The forum's legal representative Eric Mabuza says they are willing to wait until Friday.

"Well, it is true that the government has asked for a favour, or for an indulgence from us, that we must hold off legal action until Friday.

"We understand that there is a big meeting that government is going to hold and discuss among others the issues we have raised in our letter.

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"Our issues are quiet substantive. Reluctantly we have agreed to grant them that favour because court must always be the last resort. We want to resolve this matter as amicable as possible."

Mabuza believes the forum should be granted the same courtesy as taxi operators.  

"We are very optimistic that the president will look at our letter and the issues that we raised and come to another conclusion. To come with a solution to this impasse in the same way government was able to relax the rules with the taxi operators."