GLF COLumN

President of the Gauteng Liquor Forum, Linda Madida speaks during their recent Strategic Summit.

We welcome Spotong as the only publication in the country that is committed to highlighting the challenges and successes of the liquor industry, at the same time empowering traders through its quality industry related content. This historic partnership means that the days of silence for liquor traders have come to an end. We now have a mouthpiece that will report the truth about issues affecting traders. We all know that many people have incorrect and uninformed perceptions about liquor traders, especially shebeens and taverns, as places that breed criminals, rapists and promote underage drinking. But as the GLF we’re dedicated and determined to ensure that all traders belonging to various associations affiliated to our forum, comply with their respective Code of Conducts that encourage responsible trading, alcohol consumption and also prohibit the selling of alcohol to visibly pregnant woman, children under the age of 21 or public servants wearing uniforms such as police, soldiers, nurses and paramedics. We believe that having Spotong as our media partner will definitely assist in taking forth these good practices to all liquor traders through out Gauteng, and educating them about the do’s and dont’s of liquor trading.

Our Organisation recently held our Strategic Planning Summit at Isolomzi Place in Palm Ridge to pave a way forward and we would like to thank the United National Breweries for funding the event as well as the South African Brewery who sponsored the facilitators for the two day event. The summit was held to address the drafting and adoption of our constitution, Code of Conduct for all 15 associations. We also outlined GLF’s Mission and Objectives, setup Organisational Structures, committees and goals and identified External Stakeholders.

Among the speakers at the event was Lieutenant-Colonel Johan Rautenbach from the SAPS Provincial office who deals with liquor law enforcement and compliance as well as Max Mothlake from the Gauteng Department of Economic Development. The discussion with Lieutenant-Colonel Rautenbach was on liquor law enforcement and compliance; he also spoke out about illegal trading, non-compliance and sometimes the unfair treatment of liquor traders by some of the police. We agreed to open all the doors of communication wider as we move forward. Mothlake told delegates that the Liquor Board had finally agreed to replace the Shebeen Permits with Shebeen Licences and that the department will consult extensively to ensure that all traders concerns are urgently addressed. We view this decision taken by the Liquor Board as a victory for all liquor traders in the province but in our capacity as the GLF, we will ensure that the process brings relief to all liquor traders including those trading illegally by assisting them to apply for licences. However we have learnt that the Department of Community Safety have allegedly instructed provincial police to close down at least five shebeens every week whilst the Department of Economic Development is undertaking the process to legalise these shebeens. This leaves the affected families without a source of income. Therefore we need to intensify our action as GLF to communicate and engage constructively with all relevant departments in government and other stakeholders to reach an amicable conclusion that would be in the interest of all parties. The GLF once again wants to extend a special thanks to Sean Press, CEO & Development Director of Contact Media and Communications, Editor of Spotong, Donald Makhafola, and the entire leadership of the GLF for working tirelessly to facilitate the whole process and see to it that the two parties sign the agreement. GLF General-Secretary Mlungisi Majola

TRADERS CORNER

THE GAuTENG LIquOR FORum (GLF) IS pLEASEDTOANNOuNCETHE pARTNERSHIp DEALITHASSTRuCK WITH SPoToNgMAgAZINE.