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Eastern Cape government calls for alcohol ban to be reinstated
Eastern Cape Government has called for the alcohol ban to be reinstated due to a large number of incidents regarding alcohol abuse.
Image via: Adobe Stock
The Eastern Cape Government has written a letter to the National Government asking it to consider reinstating the alcohol ban in the province due to a high level of non-compliance to regulations, as well as, road accidents since 1 June.
Alcohol sales permitted under Level 3 of lockdown which began on 1 June — just over one week ago.
EASTERN CAPE GOVERNMENT CALLS FOR ALCOHOL BAN
Eastern Cape Premier Spokesperson, Mvusiwekhaya Sicwetsha, said the decision has been taken in order to reduce the number of COVID-19 infections, as the province has had a high number of incidents regarding non-compliance to lockdown regulations.
The Eastern Cape Provincial Government has, therefore, written a letter to the national government requesting the prohibition of trade and distribution of alcohol.
“This is because we have seen cases of abuse of alcohol that have resulted [in] road accidents, into people driving under the influence of alcohol,” said Sicwetsha.
“This is not proper use of alcohol, this is abuse of alcohol. We have seen people intoxicated walking around the streets without wearing masks, without social distancing and we have seen people having house parties in the province,” he said.
“These are breaking regulations of the lockdown and we believe that if we could reintroduce this ban in this province, we can reduce the rate of infection because having this situation where people are breaking these laws, it puts their lives at risk and it makes quite a number of people vulnerable to infections,” he added.
Sicwetsha maintained that the decision has been taken to reduce infection and to protect people’s lives.
“The province is expecting a conversation with national government on this matter to make a decision that will benefit all of us. We are appealing to the people of the province to stop abusing alcohol and to continue working together to prevent the spread of the virus. We are concerned by the few that are making their lives vulnerable,” added Sicwetsha.
WATCH: VIDEO OF YOUNGSTERS PARTYING GOES VIRAL
On Saturday 7 June, videos showing a group of youngsters partying in large numbers was spreading like wildfire.
“The caption on the video said: “The Department of Basic Education [is] opening schools but yet these kids were having fun yesterday night in P.E, Zwide Kwa Lamani Garage..hugging and drinking alcohol. Cyril Ramaphosa, why uthule my President??.. I won’t be surprised if all of them infected each other after this ‘festive.”
In the video, none of the social distancing protocols that are meant to be adhered to, are taking place. Youngsters in the video can be seen in close proximity hugging one another without any face masks for protection.
At the time of publishing, there are currently 6 341 COVID-19 cases in the Eastern Cape and 127 people have lost their lives. There has been 2 666 recoveries.
