Johannesburg – South Africa is expected to expel over 200 diplomats, from more than 10 different African countries – including Lesotho, Malawi, Burundi, Guinea, and Rwanda – over the next weeks, over a multimillion-rand duty-free booze scandal. Last week, about 17 diplomats were shown the door, including the expulsion last Thursday of Duwa Mutharika, daughter…
Media statement The illicit alcohol trade sales by volume have now overtaken the entire combined wine and cider sectors. In 2020 SARS lost R11.3 billion due to the illicit alcohol trade. This is enough to pay for more than two million child support grants for a year or pay to place an additional 34 000…
Media statement Calls to restrict alcohol sales disregard the state of the SA economy and high level of unemployment SAAPA should demonstrate tangible contribution to the national COVID-19 response Industry committed to work with Government to save lives while protecting a million jobs supported by the alcohol value-chain The South African Liquor Brandowners Association (SALBA)…
Media Release There is an urgent need to intensify the COVID-19 vaccine roll out Limiting the size of gatherings and adherence to health protocols are most effective measures to contain infections Alcohol bans implemented by government were not supported by health experts in the Ministerial Advisory Council The South African Liquor Brandowners Association (SALBA) and…
Media Release Alcohol bans have cost the economy R51.9 billion in GDP loss, with 200,000 jobs at risk The South African Liquor Brandowners Association (SALBA) welcomes the step by Government last week to publish some of the advisory notes of the Ministerial Advisory Council that informed various decisions of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC).…
Media Release The analysis raises fresh questions about the evidence being relied on to support bans on alcohol sales and what should be done next. The data analysis, led by independent data expert Ian McGorian of Silver Fox Consulting, in collaboration with Professor Mike Murray from the University of KwaZulu-Natal School of Mathematics, Statistics, and…
Media Release The South African Liquor Brandowners Association (SALBA) noted President Cyril Ramaphosa in his address to the nation on Tuesday, 30 March 2021. SALBA is pleased with the President’s emphasis on the urgent need to rollout the country’s vaccination programme and his comment on the need for the collaboration between private corporations and the…
Media Release Data is to inform the industry’s next steps in responding to the fourth ban Industry is concerned about Trade, Industry and Competition Industry and Competition Minister’s failure to engage with the sector on the lockdowns South African Liquor Brandowners Association (SALBA) has submitted an urgent request for information in terms of the Promotion…
Media Release There is no scientific rationale for increasing the size of gatherings and banning alcohol sales The decisions on the size of gatherings are directly against the recommendations of Nedlac in minimising the risk of the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic The South African alcohol industry notes with grave concern media reports that the…
Media Release Swift response required ahead of the potential third wave with reinstated curfews and restrictions on gatherings Alcohol industry already devastated by three periods of sales bans in the past 12 months Government, industry and civil society partnership needed to reduce alcohol-related harm The South African alcohol industry has made recommendations to the government…
Media Release An 8% increase in excise tax will further strain the alcohol industry, increasing risks to jobs and businesses in the value chain Tax adjustments do not take into consideration a significant increase in the size and efficiency of the illicit market that has grown during the sales bans The South African alcohol industry…
Media Release The cumulative impact of the three alcohol bans has put 200 200 jobs supported by the alcohol value chain at risk in the nation’s informal and formal economy Sales revenue lost as a result of the bans is approximately R36.3 billion Country’s annualised GDP loss due to the bans is approximately…
Media Release Industry welcomes President’s decision to allow onsite and offsite consumption Industry calls for collaborative and transparent engagement with Government going forward Industry demands urgent and regular review of ongoing restrictions as the health situation improves The South African alcohol industry welcomes President Ramaphosa’s announcement this evening to reinstate the sale of alcohol by…
Media Release According to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD)’s Daily Hospital Surveillance Report, the number of active COVID-19 cases across the country has dropped over the last two weeks, in some cases by more than 50%. The recent report states “all provinces reported a decrease in weekly incidence risk” ranging from a 22.9%…
Media Release Except for the citation of social media posts from hospitals, no details are provided on the caseload versus the hospital capacity available No Government Ministry is taking responsibility to explain to the public and the industry what justifies the continued ban With the number of new COVID-19 cases continually declining for the past…
Media Release Crisis-driven COVID-19 related prohibitions on alcohol beverages promote the development of parallel illicit markets. Entire industries are plunged into a financial abyss, reducing much-needed government revenue. The South African alcohol industry reaffirmed its objections to the Government’s use of prohibition in the struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic, stating that the unintended consequences—specifically the…
Media Statement South African alcohol industry applies for deferment of excise duties until ban ends Alcohol ban damages the fiscus has a negative impact on the country’s precarious socio-economic predicament and the industry’s viability Tuesday, 12 January 2021 — President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to extend the alcohol ban yesterday has left the South African alcohol…
Media Statement SALBA urges Government to open alcohol sales for home consumption Current total prohibition driving significant losses on tax to Government and business revenue South African Liquor Brandowners Association (SALBA) notes the legal action lodged by South African Breweries against Government decision to prohibit all sales of alcohol with effect from 29 December 2020.…
Media Statement Industry supports curtailing all forms of gathering to slowdown the spread of infections Home consumption remains the safe option for those who chose to consume alcohol SALBA urges law enforcement agencies to be rigorous in dealing with illegal alcohol sales and the production of counterfeit products Reported a break-in into the production facility…
Media Release The South African alcohol industry supports the Government’s measures to reduce the spike in coronavirus infections. During the festive season, the sector has, therefore, decided to withdraw support for or associating its brands with naming rights for major entertainment events for which an events licence is required. Further, its members will not become…
Media Release The South African Liquor Brand Owners’ Association (Salba) has stated that the increasing illicit trade in alcohol represents a serious threat to the South African economy due to the loss of taxation, including VAT and excise, as well as jobs contributed by legal alcohol producers and merchants to the fiscus. South Africa can…
Media Release South Africa’s alcohol industry welcomed Wednesday evening’s announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa to resume the trading and distribution of alcohol for off-site consumption to normal licensed trading hours, with effect from today, 12 November 2020. Under lockdown level 1, sale of alcohol for off-site consumption had been restricted to between 09h00 to 17h00…
Media Release The alcohol industry is in full support of the enforcement actions undertaken by the SAPS on Saturday night at venues which were not abiding by the COVID-19 restrictions relating to the curfew, social distancing and the wearing of masks. Chairperson of the South African Liquor Brandowners Association (SALBA) Sibani Mngadi said, “The alcohol…
Media Release The alcohol industry issues stern warning to liquor traders to abide by regulations Consumer and traders urged to make use of hotline to report transgressions The alcohol industry has acted swiftly and cancelled supplies to the 44 alcohol outlets in the Western Cape whose licences have been revoked by the provincial Liquor Authority…
Media Release Liquor traders council renews support for government’s battle against illicit trade Illicit trade impacts people’s health and the government fiscus Support calls for a more regulated alcohol industry A coalition of liquor traders has affirmed their commitment to assist the government in its fight against the illicit liquor trade. Speaking on behalf of…
Media Release Alcohol industry honours excise tax payments deferred during lockdown Payments of R2.5 billion in excise duty to commence in October 2020 The alcohol industry contributed R72 billion in indirect taxes in 2019, accounting for 5.6% of total government tax revenue Industry employs more than 504 000 people and sustains an addition 774 000…
Media Release South Africa’s alcohol industry welcomed today’s announcement by the Government to place the entire country on Alert Level 1, but raised concerns about the continued restrictions for off-consumption sales of alcohol which will now include Fridays and the curfew being extended to midnight. These measures will come into effect at midnight on Sunday,…
Media Release A spokesperson for the alcohol industry Sibani Mngadi said, “The industry made a commitment to the Government to support the country in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. We proposed a new social compact that included an investment of R150 million into direct harm reduction interventions and programmes over the coming year and embraced…
Media Release The alcohol industry notes the recent media reports attributed to the SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter confirming that the illicit trade of alcohol is thriving and that it could take years to dismantle the criminal networks that entrenched themselves as a result of the ban on the sale of alcohol during the COVID-19 lockdown.…
Media Release The South African liquor manufacturers, including Distell, Diageo, Heineken, Pernod Ricard and South African Breweries made a clarion call to traders and consumers to uphold the principles of selling and consuming alcohol responsibly and adhering strictly to the COVID-19 safety and health regulations. As an industry we have seen the devastating impact of…
Media Release: Harm reduction measures Targeted areas in provinces: Western Cape, Delft, Nyanga, and Mitchells Plain Eastern Cape, Mthatha and Lusikisiki KwaZulu-Natal, Inanda, and Umlazi Orange Farm and Dobsonville in Gauteng. The South African liquor industry is committed to working with stakeholders to bolster existing compliance practices and introduce new ones. It has also launched…
MEDIA RELEASE The investment is to focus on upscaling existing programmes and finding new, innovative measures to deal with key areas of concern including the following: Drinking & driving/walking The industry will support legislative and enforcement measures to reduce drinking and driving/walking by capacitating law enforcement with resources to effectively enforce it, and by partnering…
Media Release The spokesperson for the industry Sibani Mngadi said, “We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the irresponsible actions that led to these tragic and unnecessary deaths of three traffic officers from the Tshwane Metro. We will continue our undertaking to scale up and implement programmes to promote responsible consumption of alcohol.” Mngadi reiterated…
Media Release South Africa’s alcohol industry has welcomed the announcement by the Government to resume the trading and distribution of alcohol from 18 August 2020. Kurt Moore, CEO of the South African Liquor Brand owners Association (SALBA), said the alcohol industry and business representatives met Health Minister Zweli Mkhize last week to discuss lifting the…
Media Statement Tuesday, 11 August 2020—The South African alcohol industry notes the concerns raised by spiritsEUROPE at the weekend regarding imbalances in trade between South Africa and European Union (EU) as a result of the continued prohibition on the sale of alcohol in SA. The EU is SA’s biggest trading partner. The Economic Partnership Agreement…
MEDIA RELEASE Tuesday, 4 August 2020 — The alcohol industry welcomes the positive response from the National Treasury to its request for a deferment of excise tax on alcoholic beverages. The National Treasury has proposed a 90-day deferral for the payment of excise taxes on alcohol. The deferrals will be effected through the Customs and…
Media Statement Sunday, 2 August 2020 — The alcohol industry welcomed the call by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) for Government to start preparing for the lifting of the ban on the formal sale of alcohol. The decision recognises that there was no immediate severe pressure on hospital beds set aside for the…
Media Statement Monday, 27 July 2020—South Africa compares itself to Sri Lanka and the Kingdoms of Lesotho and eSwatini as the only four countries in the world that have prohibited the sale of alcohol as part of lockdown response to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The two landlocked neighbours (Lesotho and eSwatini) rely…
MEDIA RELEASE Alcohol Industry Monday, 20 July 2020 — The renewed prohibition of alcohol sales with immediate effect has resulted in the South African alcohol industry having no choice but to apply for a deferment of the payment of over R5 billion in excise duties for July and August 2020. The total excise due for…
MEDIA RELEASE: Liquor Industry Alcohol industry requests Research Data informing the second ban of sales Thursday, 16 July 2020—The South African alcohol industry noted the findings in the report by the South African Medical Research Council’s (SAMRC) Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drug Research Unit to the Portfolio Committee on Health on the impact of alcohol…
STATEMENT BY ALCOHOL INDUSTRY It has been brought to our attention that numerous messages are doing the rounds on social media and on WhatsApp, which state that liquor sales will once again be banned this week. The industry has not received any information from Government suggesting any review of the current Level 3 regulations which…
MEDIA RELEASE Friday 5th June 2020: After four days of trading in Alert Level 3, the liquor industry reopened across its supply chain with measures enforced around security, crowd control, social distancing and hygiene safety. The sector had previously made comprehensive commitments to DTIC regarding measures to be implemented to ensure a safe reopening. During…
Monday, 01 June 2020 MEDIA RELEASE South Africans come to the party and take responsibility on day one of Alert Level 3 Despite the long queues, the opening of the liquor trade after nine weeks of zero trading went off without major hitches. Members of the alcohol industry were unanimous in their praise for the…
MEDIA RELEASE: 22 May 2020 The alcohol industry is committed to helping restart the country’s economy to save the livelihoods of our people while at the same time taking appropriate safety measures to curb the spread of the pandemic. As an industry, we create employment for over one million people across the value chain, contribute…
To stay updated on Covid – 19 please click on the link below : The link will redirect you to the COVID-19 Corona Virus South African Resource Portal. https://sacoronavirus.co.za/
The South African National Budget for 2020 was tabled by the Minister of Finance, the Honourable Minister Tito Mboweni. It is pleasing to note that the Minister has moderated increases, aligning those adjustments with inflation. In summary, the minister announced the following increases in excise taxes: Unfortified Wine 4.4% Fortified Wine 4.4% Sparkling Wine 6.0%…
The 2019Euro 1’squota utilisation statistics have been released by the Department of Agriculture. The statistics reveal that the 34 million bulk wine quota was fully utilised. However, in respect of the bottled wine allocation of 79 million, only 82.3% or 65 million of the EU wine quota was utilised during the 2019 calendar year. Our…
AWARE has launched its new code of commercial communication. The code is a voluntary commitment by all AWARE partners to monitor and regulate their marketing strategies. In addition, the code is a pledge on the shared vision for a healthy and alcohol wise generation. The code aims to shape the role that the alcohol industry…
The Wine and Spirits Board(WSB) circulated their third Wine Law for 2019, inviting comments on the proposed amendments to the regulations. The wine law includes permissible alternatives for class designations, provisions for rules for the use of words such as gluten, sulphites, lower in alcohol etc. In addition, the wine law provides guidance on the addition…
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries(DAFF) Directorate Marketing hosted training for wine exporters. Mr K.T. Tjale presented about the application procedure for market access permits. He highlighted to the exporters that all applications must be done on the wine online system and the company name should be according to the BEE certificate and SARS clearance certificate. In addition,…
Brexit Q&A – by Michael Mokhoro – SALBA Stakeholder Relations What is the implication of BREXIT to the South African Wine Industry? – South African Wines would not be exercising the preference it enjoys with SADC – EPA (Economic partnership Agreement) in terms of the allocation of quota. South African Wines will have to compete…
SALBA Members are urged to note that the re-allocation of the wine export quotas is scheduled for June 2019 with the implementation of the re – allocation effective from 01 July 2019. Exporters will be afforded an opportunity to motivate to retain their quota from 20 May 2019 to 14 June 2019. Exporters must motivate…
SALBA had the opportunity to attend the meeting that represented a significant moment for the Group, Its 20th Anniversary, since its creation in 1998. It presented an important opportunity for WWTG industry and government representatives to continue working together with the aim to facilitate the international trade of wine, in line with the vision of…
Gauteng police have arrested three suspects after seizing goods worth R10m at warehouses in Midrand on Wednesday. “In one of the warehouses various brands of alcohol, including White Horse, Captain Morgan, J&B, Jameson and Smirnoff, destined for the export market were being recapped and several identification marks removed for the purpose of…
CAPE TOWN – The liquor industry on Thursday signed guidelines for good business practices for South African companies operating on the African continent. The trade and industry department said that the guidelines, signed in Cape Town, aim to encourage companies to align their involvement and practices with the South African government’s integration and…
The South African Brandy Foundation has honoured several prominent individuals for their contributions to raising the profile of brandy, South Africa’s favourite spirit. Among the group who have just been inducted into the distinguished Brandy Guild of South Africa are some of the country’s most beloved personalities and industry leaders. “Our Brandy Guild members play…
Each year, SALBA takes on a project to make a difference for 67 minutes, to honour the late, great, Nelson Mandela. This year SALBA visited New Life Center (www.newlifecentre.co.za) which is a home to pregnant women/girls in crisis and in the event of an unplanned pregnancy,Furthermore New life Center offers correct counsel and support to the…
HEINEKEN SA’s Dutch Managing Director, Ruud Van den Eijnden, studied Business Economics at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Netherlands, majoring in Logistics and Marketing. “HEINEKEN’s iconic status appealed to many Dutch students. So, once I finished my studies, I applied for a graduate programme. HEINEKEN Netherlands hired a few graduates from schools and universities, giving…
OPINION / 3 APRIL 2017, 09:09AM / SIBANI MNGADI The SA Liquor Brand owners Association (SALBA) has congratulated the Department of Trade and Industry for the attention it’s giving to alcohol abuse. We agree it’s a scourge that must be tackled, and tackled decisively. On this, there is no question. Salba and the department are aligned. But Salba takes…
Meeting with the South African Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organisation in Geneva.
Pretoria – Cabinet has approved the publication of the National Liquor Amendment Bill of 2016 for wider public consultation, Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe, said on Thursday. Briefing media following Cabinet’s fortnightly meeting, Minister Radebe said the bill amends the National Liquor Act of 2003. “This was approved together…
The full effect of the UK’s departure will be difficult to predict. One of the most notable short-term implications has been the marked devaluation of the British pound, while the need to negotiate trade agreements – and the uncertainty that this creates for everyone – looms in the longer term. This will have critical implications…
The SA Wine and Brandy Portal was launched at the VinPro information day on Thursday, 21 January 2016. Click here for more information.
WineBiz desk launched – boosting Government collaboration In a step towards enhancing collaboration with government, the South African wine and brandy industry will launch the WineBiz desk, with a dedicated stakeholder manager, in November. The new strategic service will operate under the auspices of the industry organisations VinPro and SALBA (South African Liquor Brand owners Association),…
By a narrow majority, the Constitutional Court on Tuesday decided that a licence to sell wine alongside other groceries was “property” in terms of the Constitution.The finding was cold comfort for Shoprite Checkers, which lost the case and will not be able to sell wine on its shelves in the Eastern Cape. But the judgment…
THE Department of Trade and Industry has made one of the quickest reversals in government policy making to date. After casually introducing a “clarification” on Tuesday that dramatically altered both the substance and value of broad-based black economic empowerment (BEE), and which would have affected the standing of about 80% of deals done to date,…
A new report shows that South Africa’s wine industry not only continues to increase its contribution to the country’s GDP but is also growing job opportunities. This is despite the impact of a muted global economy and a slight decrease in the size of the national vineyard. The industry, that remains one of South Africa’s…
Standards for digital marketing mark milestone of Commitments to Reduce Harmful Drinking: New York, NY –September 30, 2014 – Thirteen of the world’s leading producers of beer, wine, and spirits launched today the Digital Guiding Principles (DGPs), the first-ever set of global guidelines for beverage alcohol producers’ online marketing and social media use. The DGPs require…
Notices have been provided to inform industry stakeholders of the reduction in the minimum alcohol content on certain wine tariff lines from a minimum of 6.5% to 4.5%. The percentage band has been extended to a maximum alcohol content of up to 16.5%. The amendment thus brings more wine products under the ambit of 20…
22 July 2014 Cape Town, South Africa, 28th June 2013 – South Africa’s leading total beverage alcohol company, Brandhouse Beverages (Pty) Ltd, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2014 Responsible Drinking Media Awards (RDMAs). The winner of each category received R10 000 and was acknowledged for their journalistic skill and the level of…
Department of Labour urges employers to comply with the new equity laws. The Department of Labour has called on employers to abide by the freshly-amended employment equity Act in the interest of business and transformation in the country. This followed the signing into law by President Jacob Zuma earlier this week. The law will however…
THE Mitchells Plain Liquor Traders Association is to ask the Supreme Court of Appeal for leave to appeal after losing its fight to reinstate longer trading hours. Traders are losing “huge income” under the by-law, which limits hours to 6pm on weekdays and bars Sunday trade in the absence of a special licence, says Elton…
After ten years of preparations and negotiations, the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the SADC EPA Group and the EU was ‘initialed’ by the Chief Negotiators on 15 July 2014 in Pretoria, South Africa. The initialing of the Agreement signals that the negotiations are concluded. The timing is significant because it pre-empts the 1 October…