According to the alcohol industry, the tax revenue loss to the government fiscus from the value chain arising from the previous bans amounted to R29.3bn , and direct excise tax revenue lost across the nation was R8.7bn .
“The only outcomes the country can expect from the decisions to increase gatherings and ban alcohol sales is the hastening of the onset of the third wave of Covid-19 pandemic while further collapsing the struggling economy,” SA Liquor Brandowners Association chairperson Sibani Mngadi said.“The industry proposal to government through the National Economic Development and Labour Council was to reduce the size of gatherings to minimise the rate of infection.
Two senior sources privy to discussions that took place in the national coronavirus command council this past week told the paper that government was also considering restricting or barring alcohol sales over Easter and banning interprovincial travel to limit the movement of people between provinces.
“On the other hand, we have churches who have been pleading that there have been no services and they do not want to miss Easter for the second time, so we have to balance those factors. A decision has not been made. It is a difficult one.”
Ande uzovala lobaba watch the space🤣😂