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Mashatile grants reprieve to shebeen permit holders
18 April 2007
Existing Gauteng shebeen permits will remain valid until the end of December this year. This follows the decision made today, 18 April 2007, by Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs, Paul Mashatile, to extend the period of operation of shebeen permits by eight months.
Shebeen permits issued in terms of the Gauteng Liquor Act, were due to expire at the end of April this year. Gauteng head of Liquor Licensing, Kenneth Mapengo, said the extension was granted to allow his office more time to finalise the process of amending the Gauteng Liquor Act. "The extension will give us the time we need to finalise amendments to the Act in line with our objective of putting in place an effective regulatory framework for the liquor industry in Gauteng," he said.
The extension is also an opportunity for current holders of shebeen permits to convert their permits into licences. "We wish to reiterate that a shebeen permit is not a licence. It was a special measure that we had put in place in order to allow shebeen owners to become part of the mainstream of the liquor industry."
He warned that no new application for shebeen permits will be processed as the extension applies only to existing shebeen permit holders. Mapengo said the process of amending the Gauteng Liquor Act is at an advance stage and should be completed by December this year. He said he was satisfied with the progress made thus far to introduce an effective regulatory framework for the liquor industry.
"We have to date held numerous consultations with our stakeholders, who have made valuable contributions to the development of a provincial liquor policy and the Act we are currently finalising. We have also amended the definition of a shebeen in line with the Constitutional Court's directive," he said. The provincial liquor policy is being considered by the provincial Cabinet.
For more information contact:
Percy Mthimkhulu
Cell: 082 379 1913
Issued by: Department of Economic Development, Gauteng Provincial Government
18 April 2007