Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development Parks Tau, through Gauteng Liquor Board (GLB), has announced the end of payment break for liquor licence holders that were due for renewal last year.
Due to numerous external factors that disrupted socio-economic conditions in the country, such as July 2021 riots, which made it difficult for SMMEs to operate, MEC Tau granted a temporary payment break for liquor licence renewal only for a few months. The break was only for the renewal of liquor licences that were due for renewal from 01 August 2021 to 30 June 2022.
MEC Tau stressed that “the reprieve was meant for August 2021 to June 2022 liquor licenses that were due to be renewed during the period of August 2021 up to June 2022. Therefore, the payment break has ended, and liquor licence holders are given up to the end of July 2022 to renew their licences.”
However, liquor licences that are due for renewal in July 2022 onwards were not covered by this payment break and will be charged penalties for overdue payments of their renewals should they not meet the renewal deadline.
According to Section 99 of the Gauteng Liquor Act 2 of 2003, the licence shall lapse on the date on which the licensee abandons it in writing or within two months after the lapse of the renewal period in respect of which the applicable fees under Section 98 are not paid, or on a date otherwise determined by the Gauteng Liquor Board.
This Section further stipulates that licence holder has two (2) months to renew the licence after the lapse of the renewal period. The first day of the first month, a 50% surcharge is applicable, the first day of the second month after the renewal period a 100% surcharge is applicable.
Failure to comply with the provisions of Section 98 & 99, the applicant can apply for condonation or restoration of a lapsed licence and the Board is empowered in terms of the provision of Section 98 to 100 to decide relating to lapsed licences and imposed penalties.
