Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has welcomed the Western Cape High Court judgment dismissing wine producers’ body, Vinpro’s challenge of the constitutionality and lawfulness of liquor bans imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, the Ministry said Vinpro launched the application to ostensibly vindicate the constitutional values of respect for the rule of law, inter-governmental co-operation and public accountability.
It also sought to vindicate various constitutional rights, arguing, amongst others, that the power to impose restrictions on retail sales of liquor is exclusively vested in the provincial sphere of government.
“The Minister, representing the national government, successfully argued that the regulations were not aimed at addressing the impact of alcohol on society generally but were rather aimed at capacitating the health system during trying times.
“This, because South Africa has a much higher burden of alcohol-related trauma cases than experienced in many other
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