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People stay outside waiting their turn to enter a point of sale and buy alcohol.
- The flood of alcohol storage has started amid speculation about a ban on the sale of alcohol.
- This due to the rapid increase in Covid-19 infections.
- Several liquor stores around Soweto saw people flock to it, rushing for drinks before a possible Ramaphosa announcement.
The avalanche of alcohol storage has begun.
This follows speculation that President Cyril Ramaphosa could impose a ban on the sale of alcohol due to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases.
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Several liquor stores around Soweto saw many people flocking to their doors ahead of the Ramaphosa announcement scheduled for 8pm.
Outside Big Daddy’s liquor store in Devland, Soweto, there was a queue of customers waiting their turn.
They waited patiently in their vehicles, some alongside their wheelbarrows and carts.
Inside the liquor store, there was a queue of customers winding through the courtyard.
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Among them was the tavern owner, Tintswalo Maluleke, who arrived in a bakkie with crates of empty beer bottles.
“I am afraid that the sale of alcohol will be banned. Some of us survive by selling alcohol. If Ramaphosa cancels the liquor sale, we’re in trouble. We have children to feed with what little we earn from the sale of alcohol.
“I am here to store enough alcohol for New Years Eve and the following day. If the president bans alcohol [sales], we are in serious trouble. I have no choice but to adhere to Ramaphosa’s mandate. ”
Another buyer promised that he would be forced to sell alcohol underground if there was a ban.
“Alcohol is my main source of income. I already paid half of my children’s school fees for next year. Where will I get the other half if Ramaphosa closes our taverns?
“We will be forced to do what we did during the blockade and sell alcohol underground at higher prices. We beg you to ban sit-ins and allow us to continue selling, ”he said.
Outside of Midway Liquor Wholesalers, many customers were seen entering.
Thato Mnguni said he was a panic shopper, who did not want to celebrate the sober New Year.
“As soon as I saw the numbers pass the million mark, I was concerned. I know the sale of alcohol will be banned. I came and waited here patiently for a while to collect my things before it’s too late.
“Honestly, Ramaphosa is under pressure and I won’t see anything wrong. [should] prohibits the sale of alcohol because we have not behaved like consumers. It’s sad that those who sell liquor are going to take a hard hit, but the writing is on the wall for the president to do the right thing.
“We are seeing how people behave after consuming liquor. They don’t respect the regulations at all. Some places to drink are full of crowded people, ”Mnguni said.
One woman said the police should be blamed for not making sure all the liquor stores close on time.
“Here in Soweto, there are a lot of places that don’t close at all. They sell liquor all night long and our police know about those places. Since Ramaphosa imposed a curfew, people have been heard dancing, playing loud music from their cars around midnight or in the early hours of the morning.
“Where are our police to arrest those people for disobeying the lockdown? [regulations]? As a tavern owner, I am concerned that I may lose my income due to people misbehaving, ”she said.
Meanwhile, tavern and shebeen owners have pinned their hopes on the strict regulations imposed, but not the outright ban.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced late Sunday that the number of people who tested positive was 1,004,413, with a recovery rate of 844,874.
A total of 26,735 people have succumbed to coronavirus-related illnesses.
