Rethink your drink campaign manager Kashifa Ancer at the PgDip summer school (designed image).
Last year the Africa Centre entered into a partnership with the DG Murray Trust, specifically the Rethink your drink project, which focuses on reducing harmful alcohol use through research, partnerships, civil society support as well as advocacy and lobbying. We are proud to share that in April the DGMT secured an important victory relating to liquor laws in the Northern Cape.
The Northern Cape Gambling and Liquor Act of 2024 contained provisions that made it easier to buy alcohol later into the night, which meant venues were allowed to sell alcohol until 02:00, seven days a week. The provisions also extended take-home alcohol sales on Saturdays and public holidays.
In a case focusing on the constitutional responsibility of provinces to protect public health and safety through liquor regulation, the DGMT challenged these provisions in court. “We argued that the provisions would increase alcohol availability and deepen alcohol-related harm, including gender-based violence, road deaths and harm to children,” said campaign manager Kashifa Ancer.
The DGMT also argued that the law was passed through an unfair and constitutionally defective public participation process. People were asked to comment on a draft law that proposed shorter trading hours, but the final law allowed for significantly longer trading hours. Communities did not have a fair opportunity to respond.
On 17 April, the Northern Cape High Court ruled in favour of the DGMT’s challenge, with the judgement declaring the amendments that extended liquor trading hours unconstitutional. The court also declared the passing of the law a serious failure of democratic law-making.
According to Ancer, this is an important ruling for public health, accountability and safer communities. “This judgement is not only a legal win ─ it is a public health win, a community win and a reminder that government has a duty to protect people from preventable harm.” It also comes at a significant policy moment, considering that President Cyril Ramaphosa called on provinces to play their part in strengthening alcohol regulation in his state of the nation address in February.
The victory highlights the value of focused, strategic collaboration: “This work is never carried by one organisation alone. It is made possible through the research, advocacy, legal support, community knowledge, public health expertise and solidarity of many people and organisations committed to reducing alcohol harm in South Africa,” Ancer said.
Well done to the Rethink your drink team on this crucial achievement. We are proud to partner with you in our shared commitment to supporting and enabling inclusive public health.