LICqUOR LICENSE

a NEED FOR STREamLINED Regulations for Liquor Industry

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) says a robust policy framework which will be streamlined in all spheres of government is vital to sustaining and growing South Africa’s liquor industry. The liquor industry was estimated to have contributed R93.2 billion to the South African economy in 2009/10 which was at 3.9% of 2009 Gross Domestic Products.

Chief Director of the National Liquor Authority (NLA) at the DTI, Thezi Mabuza, was speaking recently at a Liquor Regulators Conference in Limpopo. The conference was attended by representatives from the liquor authorities, policy makers, municipalities, research institutions, law enforcement agencies and other national government departments. The objectives of the conference amongst others were to share knowledge and best practices on liquor regulation, understand the roles of different departments in liquor regulations and develop an ideal model for the synchronisation of liquor regulation to ease regulatory burden.

Mabuza said the country’s liquor industry had not changed in the past 10 years in relation to capital and ownership. The informal sector was still occupied by historically disadvantaged individuals. The DTI administers the Liquor Act No.59 of 2003 through the NLA, a national entity within the department. “We need to develop a cooperative and integrated regulatory framework that promotes a sustainable and responsible liquor industry that will contribute positively and in a matured manner to those issues we all need solutions to,” said Mabuza.

Ben Mdebuka, from the South African Liquor Traders Association said regulation and licensing procedure should be streamlined in such a way that authorities speak with one voice.

“Legislation needs to strike a balance between the needs of players in the industry to ensure that there is healthy competition. Self-regulation must be promoted by the act to promote development and responsible trading,” Mdebuka said.

TRUCks To Go

As with any business, time is money. For the commercial vehicle transporter, not having vehicles on the road is a missed opportunity and often detrimental to their bottom line. In the HCV (Heavy Commercial Vehicle), medium-haul trucking industry, fl eet owners often receive contracts which require them to source vehicles and begin operations “yesterday”. The challenge here is that truck OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) typically supply and hold stock of chassis-cabs, and due to the variety of applications, still require a specifi c body to be manufactured and fi tted locally by certifi ed “Body Builders”. This means that these customers need to factor in an appreciable lead time which can deprive them of revenue or even be a deal breaker.

MAN Truck & Bus South Africa (MTB-SA) has come up with a program called Trucks to Go to help combat this challenge. They have managed to refi ne the complete truck delivery process in an attempt to target the market’s demand for “off -theshelf” trucking solutions. In cases where chassis and body specifi cations are generally common, MTB-SA have standardized on these specifi cations and come up with a ‘one-stop-shop’ of ready-built vehicles. Here you can approach a qualifi ed sales representative who will assess your needs, recommend the most-suitable hauler for your business and get it into your fl eet with virtually immediate eff ect. As a value-added off ering, customers can purchase the vehicles and put them directly into operation without having to wait for sourcing, manufacture and fi tment of bodies. With Trucks to Go vehicles, MTB-SA can meet the immediate demands of operators in industries where lead time allowances approach zero. As a strategic partner, MTB-SA has chosen specifi c Body Builders to manufacture and fi t bodies of good quality with favourable consignment stock terms and conditions in order

to remain fl exible to market trends and keep the vehicle prices as low as possible. To kickstart this program, three vehicle models have been selected from the MAN and Volkswagen stable, namely the MAN CLA 15.220 4x2 BB, VW Constellation 13.180 4x2 BB and VW Constellation 15.180 4x2 BB, all fi tted with “Day” cabins and chassis-standard equipment. Linked to these models are three available body types which include standardized Dropside, Cargovan and Tautliner/Curtainsider bodies. These bodies range in lengths from 6.2m to 7.5m (internal) with legally achievable payloads of approximately 6.5 to 8.5 metric tons and internal volumes of approximately 36 to 44 cubic meters., which caters well for both payload and volume-type operations in the HCV distribution segment. The available mix of vehicles removes a signifi cant amount of the complexity in vehicle and body selection for customers and salesmen alike, by providing a logical spread of complete vehicle options to meet operational requirements. It’s a lot like a McDonald’s drive-through - you look at the menu and make your decision based on what will fi ll you up and be acceptable on your wallet. Once you’ve made your decision and placed your order, you move to the next window and collect. Simple, easy, FAST! The Trucks to Go program is priced extremely competitively, starting from as little as R544 450* for a CLA 15.220 4x2 BB with a 6.2m Dropside body. The plan from MTB-SA is to also expand their Trucks to Go program to a wider range of models and applications in the near future – so watch this space!

*Above mentioned prices are based on full retail for the complete vehicle and exclude VAT.

For more information, contact one of MAN’s national dealerships or MTBSA’s head offi ce on 011-928-6800. Alternatively email us: info@za.man-mn.com or visit our web page at www.mantruckandbus.co.za