Minister Fritz welcomes progress on amendments to the WC Liquor Act | Western Cape Government

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Minister Fritz welcomes progress on amendments to the WC Liquor Act

15 March 2021

The Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, is pleased with the progress being made on the amendments to the Western Cape Liquor Act, through his Department’s Western Cape Legislative Review Task Team.

On 23 February 2021, the members of the task team presented the amendments to the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) steering committee. On 12 March, the RIA Steering Committee issued a report supporting the recommendation in the Significance Test that the proposed amendments that the Department intend to make to the Western Cape Liquor Act, 2008, do not warrant an RIA. These amendments will now be processed in a formal submission to Provincial Cabinet.

The Department intends to have the amendment bill published for public comment in the next few months.

Minister Fritz said, “We know that there is a significant relationship between alcohol abuse and violent crime such as murder. As demonstrated by the quarterly crime statistics, we saw an increase in murders during the periods where the alcohol ban was lifted in the last quarter of 2020.”

Minister Fritz added, “However, in our efforts to balance lives and livelihoods, we cannot support the blanket bans placed on the sale of alcohol as these are damaging to the economy. Instead, we must continue with smart interventions such as the amendments to the Western Cape Liquor Act.”

Western Cape Liquor Authority (WCLA) Update: R3.1 Million issued in fines

The WCLA is continuing to conduct its investigations and operations in further efforts to reduce alcohol related harms. Between the period of 27 March 2020 to date, the WCLA has conducted 378 investigations. Of the 378 investigations, 96 section 71 matters were placed on the Liquor Licensing Tribunal’s (LLT) case roll, of which:

  • 55 licences were suspended;
  • 23 applications were dismissed;
  • 17 applications were referred to the Prosecutor; and
  • 1 application was withdrawn.

Of the 55 licences that were suspended, 55 section 71(4) return hearings took place in which:

  • 1 licence was revoked after finalisation of a section 20 consideration;
  • 52 suspensions were lifted by the LLT; 
  • 2 suspensions were lifted, 1 in the High Court and 1 as part of internal Appeal Tribunal proceeding;

In total, 92 COVID-19 related section 20 matters were forwarded to the LLT of which:

  • 3 licences were revoked;
  • 5 applications were dismissed;
  • In 4 matters the licensee was issued with stricter conditions;
  • 8 licences were suspended;
  • 1 licence was cancelled;
  • 1 application was referred to the Prosecutor;
  • 35 matters are currently pending.

Minister Fritz said, “In 35 matters fines to the amount of R3.1 million were issued, of which an amount of R1.7 million was suspended for a period of 24 months on condition that the licence holder does not contravene the Act and licence conditions again during this period.”

During the period of 8 – 14 March, the WCLA’s inspectors further conducted enforcement operations in communities including Woodstock, Hermanus, Ashton, Robertson, Stellenbosch, Mbekweni, Wellington, Nyanga, Mfuleni, Villiersdorp, Kleinvlei, Grabouw, Bishop Lavis and Bonteheuwel. In total, their enforcement operations ensured:

  • 111 inspections were conducted;
  • 3 operations were conducted;
  • 18 LLT requests were attended to;
  • 4 complaints were investigated;
  • 6 section 20 notices were served;
  • 4 section 37A notices were served and unlicenced premises were visited;
  • 8 non-compliance reports were submitted;
  • 4 compliance notices served; and
  • 1 compliance certificate were issued.
Media Enquiries: 

Cayla Ann Tomás Murray
Spokesperson for Minister Albert Fritz
Tel: 021 483 9217
Cell: 064 121 7959
Email: Cayla.murray@westerncape.gov.za