Limpopo Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba is holding discussions with liquor traders in the province about refusing to sell alcohol to unvaccinated customers.<\/p>\n
Ramathuba told eNCA that dialogue<\/span><\/span> has begun, although she reiterated that there is no national legislation that forces people to vaccinate.<\/p>\n “It is not compulsory in our country and that includes Limpopo. However, as a health department, we can’t just fold our arms and keep complaining about vaccine hesitancy when we know we can engage the liquor industry.”<\/p>\n Ramathuba said that the liquor industry is one of the segments which is hardest hit when a new wave of Covid-19 cases impacts the country, with the government quick to ban alcohol to help reduce the strain on hospitals.<\/p>\n The MEC said that there is now an opportunity for South Africa to avert a fourth Covid-19 wave of infections later this year, if enough people are vaccinated.<\/p>\n She said it was up to the liquor industry to decide whether it accepts the government’s proposals\u00a0 – but warned that alcohol could be banned again if another wave hits the country.<\/p>\n