No ‘koze kuse’ parties during conference

Same trading hours for liquor outlets

If warning by the Gauteng government is anything to go by, there will be no koze kuse parties on the sidelines of the ANC elective conference in Johannesburg this weekend.

Politicians are known to thrive on long and intense debates, but previous ANC conferences have also shown that they can party with almost the same vigour.

Florida Road in Durban during the governing party’s 2010 national general council became the unofficial afterparty zone, with liquor outlets opening till the break of dawn.

The Cubana restaurant was by far the most favourite hangout spot which, on several occasions, saw revolutionary songs being sung by delegates during the ungodly hours as expensive wines and spirits flowed nonstop.

However, the Gauteng government has issued a stern warning this week that the Gauteng Liquor Board will not be granting permission to any liquor outlets to extend their trading hours.

Economic development MEC Lebogang Maile said even though the conference will bring some economic spin-offs, especially for the hospitality sector, normal trading hours for liquor outlets would still apply.

“Liquor trading hours will not be extended, even though by law we have the discretion to do so,” said Maile.

“Our inspectors will be on the lookout working closely with law-enforcement agencies, especially the police. We will be conducting impromptu raids to monitor all outlets.”