Tebogo Msimanga |
The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it has been approached by affected parties about serious operational problems at the Gauteng Liquor Board (GLB). Liquor traders often incur additional costs by appointing specialist legal counsel to help them navigate the complex and often hostile process of obtaining a liquor license.
DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Economic Development Ina Cilliers said in spite of this, liquor traders face long delays in getting their applications approved. “Amongst the long list of concerns submitted, it appears that a total lack of leadership and work ethic has taken hold at the GLB”.
Cilliers added that phones are never answered, offices are mostly empty, and there is simply no way an applicant can visit the liquor board to track their application because offices are not accessible to the public.
Cilliers stressed that the DA will continue to apply pressure on the GLB through the Economic Development Portfolio Committee in the GPL to ensure that all applications are processed as soon as possible.
“It is unacceptable that businesses in the province that have applied for a liquor licence have to wait for more than four months to have their applications approved. This only leads to business owners being non-compliant”.
