Johannesburg – With speculation growing that government is preparing to ease the lockdown, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said jobs were on the line when it comes to the ban of the sale of alcohol.
The trade union also said the black market was also taking advantage of the ban.
Government said it imposed the ban to free up hospitals to deal with Covid-19, without being burdened by trauma-related injuries related to alcohol.
Cosatu said it understands the pressures facing the health system and sympathises with their plight, however, it is concerned that the black market is taking advantage of the situation and profiting without paying tax or vat.
“We don’t have the resources to enforce this. The law enforcement agencies are stretched already. So, what we are saying is that, rather than empowering criminal elements, let us work as a collective as stakeholders.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to meet with business, labour and other role players on Thursday to discuss the post Covid-19 economic recovery of the country.
