The Western Cape Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz says the province’s Liquor Authority and the Compliance and Enforcement units are going to be conducting a number of operations this weekend in an effort to prevent trauma cases.
Fritz has urged residents to not drink and drive as public hospitals are under severe pressure due to increasing numbers of COVID-19 infections.
He says extra policing will be deployed to monitor compliance and ensure that citizens observe the regulations.
“It’s the end of the month and the outright ban on the purchase and transport of alcohol has been eased. Please consume alcohol responsibly. Please observe and comply with the provisions pertaining to alcohol in the Disaster Management Act,” says Ministerial Spokesperson Wade Seale.
Seale says they have seen a spike in cases and cannot afford for hospital beds to be occupied by patients presenting in trauma units with alcohol-related injuries.
On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the ban on alcohol sales would be lifted, with restrictions.
Alcohol sales are currently permitted from Monday to Thursday, as the country moved from lockdown Level 4 to Level 3.
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