The Gauteng Liquor Board (GLB) has wasted R1 512 000,00 on 25 court cases. Of these 25 court cases, 21 have been lost and four settled.
This was revealed by MEC for Economic Development, Lebogang Maile in reply to a written question by Mike Moriarity, DA MPL Shadow MEC for Economic Development.
These cases were brought against the GLB by desperate applicants for licenses who experience unnecessary delays by the incompetent GLB. These delays are severely affecting numerous businesses across the province, some of whom are forced to trade illegally, while others have delayed their operations, causing job losses.
This has resulted in businesses taking the GLB to court.
It is unacceptable that GLB fails to process liquor license applications within the standard timeframes and demonstrates a lack of management and supervision within this entity.
The sluggish pace of approving liquor licences is not only inconveniencing business owners who wish to sell alcohol from their premises but also opens the door to corruption.
Over the last few months, the DA Gauteng has interacted with numerous stakeholders who have indicated that they are forced to either go to court to have their applications approved or officials are looking for a bribe to speed up the process.
This is the reason why even more taxpayers’ money now needs to be spent on a commission of inquiry to root out corruption, which could instead have been used to improve the work of the GLB.
A DA Gauteng-led provincial government will ensure that liquor license applications are processed within the standard stipulated timelines and that there is no room for corruption at the GLB. Where we receive reports of attempted bribery, we will immediately act on the information. Disciplinary action will be concluded within 90 days and the official will not be allowed to work in government again.
This is yet another evidence that Lesufi’s government is failing the people of Gauteng.