Die verbod op die verkoop van alkohol is ‘n ekonomiese nagmerrie | The ban on alcohol sales is creating corporate carnage

English to follow:

06 Augustus 2020

Agri SA is uiters bekommerd oor die uitwerking van die huidige alkoholverbod op die hele alkoholwaardeketting wat strek van wyn-, gars-, hops-, vrugte- en mielieboere tot glasvervaardigers en verwerkers.
Suid-Afrikaanse Brouerye (SAB) is die enigste bierprodusent wat bykans 100% van hul bestanddele plaaslik vir hul bedrywighede bekom. Die organisasie, en vele ander word ernstig benadeel deur die verbod. Dit vloei oor na die plaashek waar die boere onder ernstige druk geplaas word wat afnemingskontrakte aanbetref.
Dieselfde gebeur in die wynbedryf waar baie verkopers onder geweldige druk verkeer.
˗ In die lig van Covid-19, sal die kansellasie van R5 miljard aan kapitaalbeleggings deur die wêreld se grootste brouer, ABInBev, ‘n ernstige negatiewe uitwerking op die ekonomie hê. Die besluit om beleggings te kanselleer kom na die verlies van 12 volle handelsweke waarin SAB 30% van sy jaarlikse produksie verloor het.
˗ Die wynbedryf het alreeds R3,3 miljard aan verkoopsinkomste en 117 000 werksverliese gehad weens die verbod. Meer as 800 klein alkoholvervaardigers staar bankrotskap in die gesig.
‘Die verbod op alkoholverkope is ‘n korporatiewe bloedbad. Die kansellasie van beleggings deur die alkoholbedryf van meer as R15 miljard hou ‘n groot bedreiging in vir die volhoubaarheid van die bedryf en die ekonomie in” sê Omri van Zyl – Uitvoerende Direkteur van Agri SA.
Boere sal gars teen die einde van die jaar oes, wat onsekerheid onder die boere oor die komende seisoen wek. Gars word meestal in een streek – die Suid-Kaap geproduseer – dit sal ‘n groot impak hê op hul streeksekonomie na ‘n verwoestende droogte verlede jaar. Die oordrag van garsvoorraad sal ‘n negatiewe invloed hê op die tonnemaat wat volgende jaar geproduseer word. Boere verwag hierdie seisoen goeie opbrengste, maar ons benodig nog opvolg reën in die volgende maand vir ‘n goeie oesseisoen.
As ons een van ons belangrikste fokus-areas op ekonomiese herstel is, help dit beslis nie. Die bedryf is bereid om streng protokolle na te kom, maar die skielike verbod maak nie sin nie. Onwettige alkoholverhandeling skiet deur die dak en die regering verloor miljarde rande aan belasting en aksynsinkomste,” sê Mihlali Xhala – Hoof van die Korporatiewe Kamer by Agri SA.
Agri SA wil ‘n beroep op die regering doen om die verbod op alkoholverkope te heroorweeg om die landbousektor toe te laat om tot ekonomiese groei by te dra.
Navrae:
Omri van Zyl
Agri SA Uitvoerende Direkteur

Mihlali Xhala
Agri SA Hoof van Korporatiewe Kamer

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6 August 2020

Agri SA is gravely concerned about the impact of the current alcohol ban on the entire alcohol value chain stretching from wine, barley, hops, fruit and maize farmers to glass manufacturers and processors.
The South African Breweries (SAB) is the only beer producer that procures almost 100% of the ingredients locally for their operations are severely constrained by the current ban. This spills over to farm gate where farmers will not have off-take for their produce. The same is happening in the wine industry where many sellers are under severe financial pressure.
˗ In the face of Covid-19, the cancellation of R5 billion in capital investment by the world’s largest brewer, ABInBev, will have an adverse impact on the economy. The decision to cancel investments comes after the loss of 12 full trading weeks in which SAB has lost 30% of its annual production.
˗ The wine industry has already lost R3,3 bn in sales revenue and 117 000 jobs because of the ban. More than 800 small alcohol manufacturers are facing bankruptcy.
“The ban on alcohol sales is corporate carnage. The cancellation of investments by the alcohol industry of over R15 billion poses a massive threat to the sustainability of the industry and the economy as a whole” said, Omri van Zyl – Executive Director of Agri SA.
Farmers will be harvesting barley towards the end of the year, raising uncertainty amongst farmers about the coming season. Barley is mostly produced in one region – Southern Cape, this will have a major impact on their regional economy following a devastating drought last year. The carry-over of barley stocks will have a negative impact on the tonnages produced next year. Farmers are expecting good yields this season, but still need follow-up rain in the next month to complete a good harvest.
“If our main priority is economic recovery this is definitely not helping. The industry is willing to abide to strict protocols, but the sudden ban does not make sense. Illicit alcohol trading is shooting through the roof and government is losing billions in tax and excise income” said, Mihlali Xhala – Head of the Corporate Chamber of Agri SA.
Agri SA would like to urge government to reconsider the ban on alcohol sales to allow the agricultural sector to continue contributing towards economic growth.
Enquiries:
Omri van Zyl
Agri SA Executive Director

Mihlali Xhala
Agri SA Head of the Corporate Chamber