Cogta quashes rumours of alcohol ban return
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has dismissed reports that government will reinstate the ban on the sale of alcohol.
Several WhatsApp voice notes and messages are doing the rounds, claiming that the government will ban the sale of booze as part of its measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Liquor stores opened their doors again on June 1 when the country eased its lockdown restrictions to Level 3.
There are concerns in some quarters that the selling of alcohol will hamper the fight against COVID-19 through the increase in emergency and trauma patients in hospital.
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"There is no decision on alcohol and there is no conversation around alcohol that I am aware of yet," says Cooperative Governance Mlungisi Mtshali.
Hospitals across the country have reported a surge in alcohol-related traumas such as stabbings and drunk driving incidents.
Mtshali says cabinet has not met since the previous announcement and therefore the regulations around the sale of alcohol from Monday to Thursday remain in place.
