Cape liquor sellers battle for licences

Calphena Jacobs has been selling liquor for off-premises consumption from her compact, immaculate home in Mitchell's Plain since 1983, but in that time she has had to fork out thousands of rands to the police for selling liquor without a licence. But apart from not having a licence, in those 27 years she has never had trouble with the police or her neighbours. "There's been no noise, no fighting, no drunks, no crime, no disruption to the neighbourhood, nobody has had a problem with us," Jacobs said.

And yet for the past three years Jacobs' daughter has been struggling to get a licence for what has become a family business. She is not sure why the provincial government will not give her a liquor licence.

"Maybe they're afraid of crime... but I've had no trouble since I started in business."

The provincial government is prepared to rezone Jacobs' premises to enable her to run a hairdresser or shop but not for selling liquor.

The provincial government's near-refusal to issue licences to currently illegal operators in the Western Cape has resulted in the bizarre situation where the V&A Waterfront has more licensed premises than all of the townships in the Western Cape. The fact that the townships are mainly zoned for residential use is one of the reasons used to justify what looks like a continuation of the apartheid regime attitude, when blacks were prohibited from selling liquor.

Industry sources say that the situation is even more bizarre given the national government's desire to encourage small business development.

Nonzaliseko Mpinda is one of the lucky ones. After years of operating an unlicensed shebeen, she recently got a licence for her business in Gugulethu. Despite the considerable expense of meeting the licensing requirements - including having two toilets, no matter how small the premises - Mpinda is thrilled to be running a legal business. "Things are much easier now," she said.

David Sawula has been licensed for five of the 25 years that he has been running Popza's Place in Gugulethu. And despite now having to pay tax, Sawula says there are enormous benefits to being licensed. "The suppliers are much more supportive, the Department of Trade and Industry helps with business training schemes, it's much easier to deal with the banks...," he said.

South African Breweries (SAB), which is encouraging the licensing process with its Zenzele black empowerment scheme, reckons almost 500 of the unlicensed outlets in the province could meet the strict licensing requirements.

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