The Gauteng government says it will not grant any liquor outlets or alcohol-selling venues permission to extend their trading hours to cater for the African National Congress Conference in Nasrec, Johannesburg this weekend.

It has warned any outlet that will sell liquor illegally during the duration of the conference that the law will take its course. The conference to be held at the Nasrec Expo Centre is expected attract thousands of guests and ANC members.

“We want to warn them that they must comply with their licensing conditions. Failure to do so, their licenses will be suspended. Working closely with the police, we’ll be conducting impromptu raids in some of the areas,” says Gauteng Economic Development Department spokesperson Castro Ngobese.