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The Democratic Alliance said it welcomed the statement by Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, on his Government's resolution to allow for the sale of alcohol and the safe reopening of all businesses.
DA MP, Dean Macpherson, said in a statement on Saturday that this was because the Western Cape Government from the very onset of this pandemic immediately set to work in building healthcare capacity to ensure that they would meet the demands of people requiring medical intervention.
According to Premier Winde, data indicates that the Western Cape has passed its peak with hospital admissions falling.
"This is good news indeed and something we celebrate," he said.
Macpherson said it was now clear that the country urgently turns the focus to the economic disaster that is playing itself out across the country.
"That is why it is critical that the alcohol ban is lifted which is having devastating effects on jobs and the economy in the Western Cape and across the country. Farmers, farmworkers and retailers are suffering due to this illogical ban by the National Government," he said.
Winde reportedly said that he would take the resolution of a provincial cabinet meeting to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Coordinating Council as well as to the Ministers of Health and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs for consideration.
Meanwhile, South African liquor traders have called on the government to strike a balance between saving lives and saving livelihoods.
According to News24, a number of liquor traders met in Soweto yesterday where they decided that government must consider their financial needs when shutting down their businesses.
Traders complained that the government did not give them enough time to prepare for the ban as some had just taken loans to purchase new stock to kickstart their businesses after the first ban.
National Liquor Council convener Lucky Ntimane said women made up the majority of liquor traders and tavern owners.
