Police Minister Bheki Cele has come out guns blazing against mounting calls for government to allow the sale of alcohol during the lockdown.
Cele said it is wrong to make alcohol the centre of the debate when people are losing their lives due to COVID-19, calling people who want the ban of the sale of alcohol to be lifted as not being “serious” about life.
“The figures we got this morning from the United States this morning (Saturday) is that more than 2 000 people died of COVID-19 in a single day in that country,” Cele said.
“We all agree that the broader economy is suffering, people are losing jobs and there will be liquidations. So alcohol can not be the centre of complaints when we are facing a serious problem.”
The Beer Association of South Africa has submitted their proposals to open up taverns to government.
Amongst the organisation’s proposal is that government allow taverns to open as takeaway outlets and also allow the online sale of alcohol.
The EFF also rejected the proposal for the ban on the sale of alcohol to be lifted.
“We call on government to dismiss decisively the call from the alcohol industry and all lobbies to resume the sale of alcohol under any conditions…this is not the time to consider profit under the guise of concern for our people and their addictions,” The EFF said in a statement.
