The Department of Collaborative Governance and Traditional Affairs was asked “from numerous sources” to review the decision on liquor sales.
Departmental spokeswoman Lungi Mtshali said on Thursday that this did not mean that a decision had already been made to ban alcohol sales again.
Mtshali says rumors of this are false. This department is responsible for imposing any new regulations amid the ongoing national state of restriction.
“No decision was made to ban alcohol (sales) again. What we did get were several requests from many places to review the decision, ”says Mtshali.
The Gauteng Liquor Forum also confirmed the rumors were fake news.
“We have not heard anything from the government,” said Fanny Mokoena, president of the forum.
This comes after numerous voice messages have been circulating since Monday about the liquor ban, which is set to resume by the end of the week.
Mtshali refers to Khusela Diko, pres. Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesman, who also denied the rumors earlier this week.
William Baloyi, government communications and information spokesman, also denied the rumors. Such a decision will only be announced in advance, he says.
Police were also unaware that the ban would be reinstated.
Kurt Moore, chief executive of the South African Liquor Brands Association (Salba), also denied the rumors.
The rumors seem to be spreading through a variety of messages, especially on WhatsApp.
