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
