Alcohol producers lost P880m due to bans, govt confirms

Assistant Investment, Trade and Industry minister, Molebatsi Molebatsi, told Parliament this morning that the three producers, Kgalagadi Breweries Limited, Okavango Craft Brewery and Big Sip, had shed 190 jobs over the same period as a result of declining revenues.

The assistant minister was responding to questions asked by Selebi Phikwe legislator, Dithapelo Keorapetse, who wanted to know the impact of the series of alcohol sale suspensions, as well as what government was doing to help companies and employees affected. Keorapetse also wanted to know how much has been collected in the alcohol levy and whether government has assisted affected businesses from the levy. The legislator also asked the Ministry whether retailers who had bought stock and paid tax, then subsequently watched the stock expire due to trade bans, would be refunded their tax.