SAB to help overhaul township taverns
R39-million set aside to improve drinking holes
Township liquor traders will receive a boost from South African Breweries (SAB) after the company committed to spending millions of rands in the next five years to make taverns more user-friendly.
Ricardo Tadeu, AB InBev and SAB’s newly appointed zone president for Africa, told Sowetan that studies he had been conducting on township liquor outlets showed that the company should help to improve the establishments.
“The current landscape and environment where our products are consumed, in townships have to improve,” he said.
Tadeu said this year the company planned to spend R39-million to upgrade the establishments. The refurbishments would include overhauling taverns by creating more space, installing more lights, making them more femalefriendly and less intimidating.
Tadeu’s comment comes after the manager of Sakhumzi Restaurant in Vilakazi Street, Soweto was shot dead in January. “Eventually, working together with government, we can install cameras inside and outside of those places because we know that these have a big impact in people’s behaviour knowing they are somehow being monitored,” he said.
Sakhumzi Maqubela, the owner of Sakhumzi, said SAB products at times arrived late.
Tadeu said the company was committed to delivering its products on time but sometimes it experienced challenges during peak times or when there are heavy rains.
Sello Letsebe, owner of both Bab’s Tavern and Bab’s Liquor Store in Diepkloof, Soweto, alleged there were many instances in which SAB at times delivered unpopular liquor products, like Castle Milk Stout Chocolate Infused and Redd’s, which he did not order.
Tadeu said he would investigate Letsebe’s complaint.