PRESS RELEASE
EMBARGO: NONE
12 August 2020
AL JAMA-AH is disgusted by Western Cape Premier’s call for lifting of alcohol ban
The AL JAMA-AH party has noted the call by Western Cape Premier Alan Winde to the national government to lift the ban on alcohol sales in the province.
Winde made the statement after a provincial executive meeting on Friday where they concluded that the Western Cape is winning the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic enough for the economy to return back to normal including lifting the ban on alcohol sales.
It appears the Premier and his DA party are not taking the lives of South Africans in the province serious enough to protect them from the numerous harms caused by alcohol. The premier has a memory loss and we remind him that the Western Cape is the epicentre of the Covid-19 in the country and on the rest of the African continent.
We recognise decrease in the infection rate and death toll, but also see the need to continue taking full precautions on matters which will again increase infections and lead us into a secondary wave of the pandemic. Not only is the Premier disregarding the National Command Council, but also ignoring warnings from the provincial health department that the ban on alcohol should remain.
Several days after the ban of alcohol the police Department recorded a dramatic drop in violence, murders and rape cases. The hospitals were relieved from the pressure of trauma cases related to alcohol. The alcohol ban is an absolute necessity not only for the Province, but the whole of South Africa. There are sufficient proved negative effects of alcohol on the immune system.
The total ban on alcohol is one of the most positive steps taken by the government. AL JAMA-AH calls on the government to look at long-term solutions to totally ban liquor sales and outlets. International research reviewed in Australia unanimously agreed that the restriction of liquor trading hours reduces alcohol-related incidences and the country is also using grape derivatives in cosmetics and facial treatments.
South Africa should become less dependent on wine revenues and completely banned it. The ban on alcohol will attribute to reduce inequalities in South Africa as the country has not overcome the apartheid legacy of the “dop system”, whereby labourers were paid with alcohol.
For further details contact
Galil Brinkhuis: AL JAMA-AH MPL – WESTERN CAPE
Cell: 066 205 1879