According to a report by Euromonitor International, government's ban on alcohol sales during the Covid-19 lockdown resulted in an increase in deaths due to consumption of illicit home-brew.
He said tavern owners and shebeen permit holders had taken “a beating” from the three bans on alcohol “and we’re doing everything in our power to help prevent a third wave of Covid-19”.
“Many people are tired of the Covid-19 restrictions and want to go back to ‘normal’ life, but we can’t let our guard down now. This is a lot like the period just before the second wave, when complacency set in, with fatal consequences,” said Ntimane.
“It would be a tragedy if we allowed a third wave to take hold as a result of complacency, just as an accelerated vaccination programme seems within reach.
The legal challenge by wine producer body Vinpro against the government, whereby the body is contesting specific aspects of decision-making in respect of liquor bans, has been postponed until August.
14 February 2021 - 00:00 By Sbu Mkwanazi Fehmida Jordaan, founder of Fehmz Mocktails. Image: Supplied
Lately, people have had to go without booze and now some of them aren t going back. Fehmida Jordaan, founder of Fehmz Mocktails, is on a mission to ensure that, for those happy to have ditched the hangover, non-alcoholic drinks of great creativity and variety can fill the gap.
In 2015 Jordaan, out of necessity, established what would become her labour of love. As a Muslim, she had limited libations to enjoy. It s haram (forbidden) for her to consume alcohol, but she still wanted to have exciting concoctions to quench her thirst.