Note to Editors: Attached is a soundbite in English by DA MPL, Mike Moriarty.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng has noted media reports that the Gauteng Liquor Board (GLB) will impose penalties on businesses that fail to renew their licence within the 60-day grace period.
The DA Gauteng supports law enforcement. But in the case of the GLB, it is unfortunately easier said than done.
It is a known fact that the GLB is in a state of disarray and cannot process liquor licence applications speedily. Penalising law-abiding businesses, whose only reason for non-compliance is the GLB’s failure to fix its administrative problems, is grossly unfair.
There have been numerous cases in which applicants seeking liquor licenses, including renewals, have taken the GLB to court because of delays. In each instance the GLB has lost, largely as a result of its own incompetence. This does not bode well for the GLB’s ability to enforce the regulations from 1 April 2026.
Furthermore, to address the issues that exist within the GLB, the MEC for Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, established a Commission of Inquiry. The commission has completed its work, and the report has still not been made public. Their recommendations, if implemented, could lead to a massive turnaround in GLB performance. But implementation cannot happen while the MEC sits on the report.
A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would immediately implement the recommendations of the report by the Commission of Inquiry. In addition, we would fix the offices of the GLB in Johannesburg so that the Germiston office is not overcrowded.
The liquor industry is a huge contributor to the economy in the province. If the current problems with the GLB are not fixed as a matter of urgency, businesses that rely on liquor for an income may be forced to retrench staff or close their doors permanently.
Every Gauteng resident deserves a government committed to fixing the issues that affect economic growth and job creation in the province.