By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The High Court in Polokwane has reserved judgment in the urgent application for an interdict on the blanket reduction of liquor trading hours in the province.
The court challenge was brought by different stakeholders, including businesses, but the regulations have come into effect since the beginning of this month.
The new act was implemented by the Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism.
Previously, the Liquor Act of 1989 permitted the sale of liquor up to 2am, however, the implementation of the new Act shortened trading hours by two hours.
In addition to the midnight curfew, traders will have to pay roughly six times as much, starting this month, for license renewals, which were previously just R100.
Spokesperson for the department, Zaid Kalla says the department hopes that the judgement will be in the best interest of the public.
“We are confident as a department that of course whatever happens we have presented a solid case here today but what is more important is the satisfaction and happiness of our people of our license holders.”
The matter sat in Polokwane High Court on Friday.
Sekhukhune Liquor Traders Association chairperson, Lippi Lekgodi said the association had expected that the court would have handed down the judgement on Friday.
“The court decided to give us a judgement next week but possibly the judgement will be in our favour.”
“We are waiting that the judgement will be favouring us and hoping that indeed this government, the cruel government will just listen to the community of Limpopo”, said EFF provincial chairperson Tshilidzi Maraga.
The abuse of alcohol in South Africa is ranked among the highest in Africa, while the country also has the highest incidences of domestic violence in the world.