Johannesburg – The African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) has warned it will not allow the party's "January 8" historic event to be turned into a drinking spree after the Gauteng Liquor board (GLB) extended trading hours for selling alcoholfor the weekend celebration.
In a statement issued late on Tuesday the ANCWL said as an integral part of the ANC "it will not allow this historic event to be viewed as drinking spree, which requires liquor trading hours to be relaxed by liquor boards".
The ANCWL said it noted reports that GLB has indicated that it will extend the liquor trading times to accommodate an influx of visitors expected in Gauteng for the ANC's 105th anniversary. The celebrations will take place at Orlando Stadium, Soweto, at the weekend.
The GLB on Tuesday announced "special dispensation liquor licences", or a weekend-pass, for licensed in-house liquor traders for the ANC birthday weekend. The decision was welcomed by Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Development, Lebogang Maile.
Read: Liquor traders get weekend-pass for ANC birthday bash
"Having consulted with the GLB, more particularly my interaction with the chairperson of the Liquor Authority, I am satisfied that there is legislative latitude to, albeit on a temporary basis, relax conditions and the trading regime applicable to all licensed 'bona fide' in-house liquor traders, in good standing with the Liquor Board, during the designated days," Maile said.
But the ANCWL said: "The primary aim of January 8, is for the ANC to reflect on successes and challenges of the previous year and outline the organisation's programme for the current year," said the ANCWL.
"Members and supporters of the ANC attend January 8 statement events to listen to the president of the ANC delivering ANC NEC (National Executive Committee) statement contrary to whatever is suggested by GLB narrative."
The ANCWL said it will not allow "anyone or any institution" to attempt to drag the "good name and credibility" of the ANC in the mud.
"The narrative of portraying members and supporters of the ANC coming to January 8, as people who will require extra hours of purchasing liquor is a blatant attempt to insult the principles and values that the ANC stands for."
The ANCWL appealed to the ANC-led provincial Gauteng government "under Premier Cde David Makhura to condemn this narrative by GLB which tarnishes in the good name of our glorious movement".