The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has been inundated with complaints that the Gauteng Liquor Board (GLB) is failing to process applications for liquor licenses within normal timelines. Many of these applications have been outstanding for over a year.
While we agree that applications should not be granted automatically and that not all applications are desirable, as some could have a negative impact on the community; when many of these applications are for restaurants within shopping malls, it is incomprehensible that these cannot be granted with suitable restrictions such as hours of operation. After all, hundreds of similar establishments already exist, with few which are problematic to neighbouring communities.
These delays are having a severely negative economic impact. If restaurants can’t operate, there is a slowdown in property investment, jobs are not being created and there is a risk of jobs being lost.
I have sought information from the GLB regarding outstanding applications, and this has not been forthcoming. I asked questions for a written reply from the MEC, Lebogang Maile, but so far, the only response has been a request for an extension of time.
There is supposed to be an electronic processing system. If the system was working, the replies to my questions should be available at the press of a button.
The board and the MEC must be aware that property developers and other major applicants are resorting to the courts and are succeeding. This costs the taxpayer’s money in legal fees, unnecessarily so. I will write to the Auditor-General to investigate this matter of fruitless and wasteful expenditure. The smaller business applicants cannot afford legal action and risk going bust.
This is not to say that all applications should be granted. Indeed, we encourage refusal where this is warranted. However, what is required is a decision one way or another. Failure to do so implies that the board is either not confident or not competent. Unfortunately, those who suffer the pain of the board’s failure are not the board members but the citizens of Gauteng.
A DA government will ensure that the backlog of liquor licences that need to be approved is attended to immediately.