6 minute read
Liquor LiceNse
from Spotong Issue 7
by 3S Media
mec Addresses trAders At Liquor AWAreNess moNth LAuNch
Speaking at the Gauteng Liquor Awareness Month Launch held in Boksburg, Gauteng MEC of Economic Development Mxolisi Xayiya urges liquor traders to partner with government to reduce excessive alcohol consumption in the province.
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“We have a critical challenge to ensure that liquor regulation encourages the responsible sale and consumption of alcohol while not undermining economic opportunities available to those engaged in the trade.”
Gauteng Liquor Awareness Month is dedicated to raising awareness about the liquor industry and regulations governing it, the detrimental socioeconomic consequences of excessive alcohol consumption, as well as the rights and responsibilities of liquor traders in Gauteng.
As part of the campaign, the Department of Economic Development was holding consultations with stakeholders in the industry and educating the public about the provisions of the Gauteng Liquor Bill, which is currently the subject of public consultations led by the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.
Addressing liquor traders, MEC Xayiya said excessive alcohol consumption has detrimental consequences for society and contributes to some of the social ills haunting South Africa such as the high levels of violence and the abuse of women and children.
He urged business and industry stakeholders to collaborate with government in its efforts to reduce high levels of alcohol abuse in the province.
“We are looking forward to partnering with you to stamp out some of the rogue elements in the industry. We want to work with you to isolate those that break the law and sell alcohol to underage children and those who violate the stipulated operating hours”, said Xayiya the Gauteng Liquor Bill, which is set to amend the Gauteng Liquor Act of 2003.
“We hope that the outcome will be an expression of your will and reflect the fact that you are as concerned as we are about the need to foster the responsible sale and consumption of alcohol in Gauteng,” said Xayiya.
He added that the Department of Economic Development has also taken steps to ensure improved and efficient service delivery for traders and industry players in the province.
These steps include the reduction of turnaround time for considering the liquor license applications to 49 working days and aligning liquor license transaction fees with an internal database of all licenses issued.
“We are confident that these measures will bear positive results and improve our rankings regarding the ethos of statutory compliance and good corporate governance,” said Xayiya.
dA veNue iN kWA themA
Da Venue is situated in the centre of Ekurhuleni’s Kwa Thema, owned by Musa Zwane. And caters for every market trench. On Fridays it hosts the youth, Saturday the middle class market and then on Sundays it caters strictly for the more mature elite crowd.
It boasts a conference venue, where the club’s ideas are brewed, ample secure parking space, shops, an internet café, a hair and beauty salon, an ATM and a cafe butchery chisa nyama nearby. According to the entertainment manager, Papi Mtsweni, several high-profile celebs and artists have graced Da Venue. Events that stole the show were the All Star party and the Mini Cooper party. Famous DJs have also spun their tunes at these events.
Entertainment manager at Da Venue, Papi Mtsweni
JAzz JAzzie’s iNN
in the tiny township of Wattville, Ekurhuleni, jazz artists and poets frequent Jazzie’s Inn Tavern to feast on “all that jazz”. It was established in 1999 by Bro Boysie Marokane whose creative inspiration of jazz started out during his early years. Sitting among his array of jazz CDs, a variety of jazz photographs and artworks, Marokane says he played at the Ekurhuleni Jazz Festival.
“My greatest dream is to see local jazz artists afforded the rewards and accolades they so much deserve. Jazz festivals must be original and jazz sessions should be used to promote and inspire upcoming jazz artists.”
Jazzie’s also hosts live performances, poetry sessions, art exhibitions, business meetings and tourism-related activities. Owner of Jazzie’s Inn, Boysie Marokane
ADVERtORiAL
tAverNs to empoWer commuNities
Metal can recovery company, Collect-a-Can is encouraging tavern owners across South Africa to empower their communities by donating their used beverage cans and other recyclable materials to informal collectors as a way of giving back to the communities in which they operate. “We encourage tavern owners to collect the cans generated through day-to-day business and to donate these collections to informal collectors, who will ultimately sell these empty beverage cans to Collect-a-Can for cash,” says Zimasa Velaphi, Public Relations and Marketing Manager of Collect-a-Can. Apart from communicating the recycling message for a cleaner healthier environment, recycling is also seen as an area that facilitates job creation in many communities.
There is also growing pressure for organisations to act socially responsible, therefore Collect-a-Can’s ‘Cash for Cans’ initiative creates the perfect platform for organisations to fulfil their roles as good corporate citizens.
By supporting informal collectors through collecting and donating cans, tavern owners will make a meaningful contribution to the communities in which they operate, while shaping the South African economy. “Collect-a-Can has proven that it is selfsustainable by managing its operations and cost structures at optimum levels for the past 20 years,” says Velaphi. “We know through experience that recycling creates a viable and sustainable income source, specifically when supported by community members and local businesses”.
There are currently approximately 160 000 informal collectors earning a living or supplementing their low income by collecting cans. Most of these collectors recover used metal cans to supplement their household income but for many it is their only income. This drive has inspired vital entrepreneurial endeavours as many collectors acquire basic business skills and grow their own recovery and recycling businesses.
The ‘Cash for Cans’ initiative with support from local taverns, will safeguard the environment and ensure a sustainable income stream for collectors, which will ultimately contribute to job creation and nation building.
“We have seen the positive impact that this work can have on collectors’ livelihoods by creating the opportunity to earn an income until they can find permanent employment or to supplement their low income” says Velaphi.
