Liquor Licence Lawyer South Africa

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We manage liquor licence applications for:

On-consumption | Off-consumption | On and Off consumption | Micro breweries

We strive to expedite and streamline the liquor licence application process. To this end, we can assist with having your liquor licence approved with little or no delay. Furthermore, our top-class liquor licensing application services are provided at an affordable rate. Our experience with registrations and long standing relationships with the industry role players give us the competitive advantage in registering licences. Your application will be handled by an experienced legal team and your liquor licence registered efficiently.

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Our pricing model is simple and transparent. Your first consultation is always free.

MICRO MANUFACTURE LICENCE

FROM:
R15000

100% upfront payment required

ON-CONSUMPTION LICENCE

FROM:
R15000

100% upfront payment required

OFF-CONSUMPTION LICENCE

FROM:
R15000

100% upfront payment required

EVENT LIQUOR LICENCE

FROM:
R6000

100% upfront payment required

Our Clients

We are proud to have assisted the following clients with their liquor licensing needs.

Liquor Licence Lawyer clients

Testimonials

Our Team

Simon Dippenaar

Simon Dippenaar

Founder & Managing Partner, SD Law

Liquor Licence Lawyer was created by Simon Dippenaar, who holds Bachelor of Business Science, Bachelor of Laws, and Professional Diploma in Legal Practice qualifications from the University of Cape Town. Simon is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa. Mr Dippenaar is also the contributing editor of wine.co.za. He is also the founder and director of Simon Dippenaar & Associates, a private legal practice.

Marisa Janse van Vuuren

Marisa Janse van Vuuren

Liquor Licensing Specialist

Marisa obtained her LLB degree from the University of Stellenbosch in 2003 and was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa in 2005. She has 10 years exclusive experience in liquor licencing legislation. She assists with advice, opinions and applications in terms of the Western Cape Liquor Act as well as the National Liquor Act. She is also the Director of her own consultancy business, namely Liquor Law Advisors (Pty) Ltd. Marisa has a passion for assisting clients to achieve their goals. She is organized, has an eye for detail and put the client’s best interest first.

From the Blog

Liquor Association calls for crackdown on illicit alcohol sales

Reprinted from iol.co.za, by Zimbili Vilakazi – 2025-07-02

The National Liquor Traders Association (NLT) has intensified its stance against the growing problem of illicit alcohol sales, urging liquor traders to prioritise consumer safety and health. This warning follows the arrest of a 31-year-old man in Mariannhill, west of Durban, who was found in possession of a substantial amount of illicit alcohol, primarily posing as a popular vodka brand.

Recent figures from the Drinks Federation of South Africa (DF-SA) highlight a concerning trend, revealing that around 18% of alcohol sold in South Africa is illegal. In the past year alone, an alarming volume of 773,000 hectolitres of illicit alcohol was identified, posing serious risks to public health.

NLT spokesperson Lucky Ntimane expressed the urgency of collaborative efforts among liquor traders, communities, and law enforcement agencies to combat this issue. He stressed that the estimated value of illicit alcohol seized during the recent operation—approximately R250,000—underscores the critical need for vigilance and accountability within the industry.

“This should serve as a wake-up call,” Ntimane remarked. “If we work together, we can effectively eliminate the criminals within our ranks and protect our businesses while ensuring that only authentic, safe products reach consumers.”

His call to action compels liquor traders to stand at the forefront of safeguarding their businesses against illegal practices.

Brigadier Jay Naicker of the KwaZulu-Natal SAPS shared details about the operation that led to the arrest. Officers from the Provincial Organised Crime Unit (Narcotics), along with the Provincial Drug and Firearm Unit and the Provincial Counterfeit Goods Unit, acted on intelligence regarding the manufacturing and sale of illicit alcohol.

The search of the premises resulted in the arrest of the suspect, who subsequently appeared at the Pinetown Magistrate Court, where his case was remanded pending the completion of the investigation.

The issue of illicit alcohol has dominated social media discourse among those who drink with some revealing their suspicion that they’ve once consumed such without realising it. Some of the consumers expressed that the booze they suspected to be illicit gave them an usually long-lasting and punishing hangover.


Help with your liquor licence

SD Law supports responsible drinking and supply of alcohol.

If your liquor licence application renewal is outstanding we can help you with submission and the correct documentation. We can handle objections and manage any compliance issues. Get legal help with your liquor licence application here.

Counterfeit alcohol trade surges

Reprinted from iol.co.za, by Siyabonga Sithole – 2025-07-02

The escalating crisis of counterfeit goods in South Africa has intensified calls for urgent measures to combat organised crime, following a series of high-profile arrests linked to illicit alcohol trade syndicates. Recent statistics reveal a staggering 55% increase in illegal alcohol volumes since 2017, prompting officials and activists alike to classify the situation as a national crisis.

Last month IOL reported that the Drinks Federation of South Africa (DF-SA) found that the volume of counterfeit alcohol in the country reached 773 000 hectolitres in 2024.

This surge has coincided with several police operations aimed at dismantling the networks behind these illegal products after Gauteng police, on Monday, acting on a tip-off conducted a raid in the city centre which led to the closure of an illegal alcohol manufacturing facility in Jeppestown.

During this operation, authorities uncovered millions of rands worth of counterfeit alcohol, including fake whiskey, vodka, and gin, as well as counterfeit labels and packaging worth R3.5 million. Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi of the Gauteng police confirmed that six suspects were arrested, including a man who presented a dubious liquor license from Mpumalanga.

“Upon arrival at the said premises, the team was met by a man who claimed to be the owner of the business and further produced a liquor license which was for a Mpumalanga-based establishment. Following a search of the property, the team discovered the manufacturing and production of whiskey, vodka, and gin, including the reprint of counterfeit labels and packaging,” stated Nevhuhulwi.

At the weekend, police in Bloemfontein in the Free State confirmed the arrest of six foreign nationals after confiscating counterfeit goods valued at more than R19 million during raids in the CBD. Reacting to the raids in the Free State, National police spokesperson, Amanda Van Wyk, revealed that the search and seizure warrants were executed in accordance with the Customs and Excise Act at targeted shops.

The arrests in Bloemfontein and Johannesburg were preceded by the arrest of a 31-year-old man who was arrested last week for allegedly manufacturing and illegally distributing counterfeit alcohol at his home in Klaarwater, Mariannhill, west of Durban.

During the raid, KZN police confiscated counterfeit vodka with a street value of R250 000, which was found being manufactured at the site.

At the time, police spokesperson Captain Carmen Rhynes indicated that members of the provincial organised crime, the provincial drugs and firearm unit, and the provincial counterfeit goods unit were instrumental in the arrest.

“Members of the Provincial Organised Crime Unit (Narcotics), assisted by the Provincial Drug and Firearm Unit and the Provincial Counterfeit Goods Unit, acted on intelligence-driven information regarding the manufacturing and illegal distribution of counterfeit alcohol, specifically vodka, in the Klaarwater area in Mariannhill, Durban. They executed a search warrant at the identified premises and a suspect of 31 years of age was found on site and placed immediately under arrest for the contravention of the Liquor Act and the Counterfeit Goods Act,” Rhymes said.

Reacting to the latest incidents of illicit proliferation of counterfeit booze, anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee said that SARS estimates the proliferation of illegal alcohol costs the country’s economy over R11 billion in lost annual excise tax revenue.

“The illicit alcohol trade is completely unregulated, and apart from the massive revenue losses, this leads to numerous social issues. People are being sold dodgy alcohol that potentially contains fatal ingredients. It isn’t regulated, and criminals don’t care what they’re selling as long as they make a profit. Meanwhile, criminals are stealing the taxes that are meant to pay for vital services such as schools, hospitals, and housing,” Abramjee stated.

Abramjee has attributed the increase to a lack of stringent law enforcement efforts within and across SA borders, which he said contributes directly to the flows of illicit goods on the back of the recent COVID-19 pandemic which destroyed various industries.

“The main problem is the lack of adequate enforcement by authorities and a growing lack of faith in the rule of law. Between 2016 and 2019, just R26 million worth of alcohol was seized by SARS. Since then, the sales bans imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic have entrenched illicit networks. The SA Liquor Board Association (SALBA) estimates that more than one in five bottles sold in SA is illicit. The problem is even worse in the tobacco industry, as illicit cigarettes are even easier to distribute and trade illegally,” he added.


Help with your liquor licence

SD Law supports responsible drinking and supply of alcohol.

If your liquor licence application renewal is outstanding we can help you with submission and the correct documentation. We can handle objections and manage any compliance issues. Get legal help with your liquor licence application here.

Sober judge urges minister to slap warnings on liquor labels

Judge cites clear link between alcohol and GBV

Reprinted from the Daily Maverick, by Estelle Ellis – 2025-02-08

Judge Avinash Govindjee says alcohol flows through the narrative of too many gender-based violence cases in his courtroom, and he wants the health minister to read his judgment and do something about it.

An Eastern Cape Division of the High Court judge has asked Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi to consider adding a warning about domestic violence to the labels on all liquor bottles and cans, including beer.

In the Makhanda high court in January, Judge Avinash Govindjee sentenced local resident Mthuthuzeli Manyathi (38) to 28 years in prison for the brutal murder of his partner, Ntombomzi “Nomirana” Nonze (47).

Then, last week in a second judgment Govindjee again ordered that another ruling be sent to Motsoaledi’s office.

In this case Hendrik Jason Williams was sentenced to 24 years of imprisonment for the rape and murder of his partner.

“Low-income worker + alcohol + a trigger for domestic violence = brutality + intimate femicide. The facts of this matter rehash, like a recurring nightmare, the tragic equation that all too frequently summarises the plight of women in South Africa,” Govindjee said.

In February last year Williams, a farmworker on a farm near Graaff-Reinet, spent the day drinking and then went home. When he realised that his wife was visiting at the farm next door he became jealous and enraged. He went to fetch her and beat her violently, stomped on her head and body and choked her. Other farmworkers carried her home where she later died.

“Study findings have repeatedly confirmed the role of alcohol in intimate partner violence, pointing to the need for dedicated prevention interventions,” he said in his January ruling.

“Cases such as the present one, as well as sexual offence-related cases, including child rape, frequently have alcohol flowing through the narrative as a common theme.

“In terms of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972, the minister of health is empowered to make regulations prescribing the way in which any foodstuff, including alcohol, shall be labelled.

“This includes the nature of the information to be reflected on any label, the manner or form in which such information is to be reflected or arranged on the label, and the nature of information which may not be reflected on any label.”

Judge Govindjee pointed out that the minister has made regulations relating to “health messages on container labels of alcoholic beverages, including beer and traditional beer”, but only one of the seven messages contained in the annexure to the regulations deals with violence and crime.

This warning reads: “Alcohol is a major cause of violence and crime.”

The judge continued: “There is no specific reference to the established link between alcohol and gender-based violence, including rape and murder, also in the context of domestic relationships. Furthermore, container labels for alcoholic beverages need only contain one of the seven health messages set out in the annexure to the regulations, in a space one-eighth the total size of the container label.

“This would appear to me to be wholly inadequate when considering the torrent of cases, including the present, in which alcohol is linked to violence.

“Leaving aside the question whether the chosen form of regulation is adequate for purposes of warning alcohol consumers of the correlation between alcohol, violence and crime, the failure to highlight the link between alcohol and gender-based violence appears to be an omission. In the context of the country’s efforts to address gender-based violence, including intimate femicide, this at least requires proper consideration.

“In the circumstances, the registrar is directed to ensure that a copy of this judgment is made available to the Office of the Minister of Health, drawing attention to this paragraph of the judgment.”

Judge Govindjee pointed out that between 25% and 65% of women in South Africa have reported experiencing physical, sexual or emotional abuse by a current or former partner. “The killing of women by intimate partners is the most extreme form and consequence of violence against women.”

He said expert testimony in another case revealed that intimate femicide was much more common in South Africa compared with other countries, with an average of almost three women killed by their intimate partners per day.

“Some experts have indicated that it is only by addressing the underlying reasons for intimate partner violence that any change in behaviour will occur,” he added.

“The state has certainly tried to stem the tide. The judiciary is equally obliged to play its part in ensuring that prescribed minimum sentences, designed to reflect society’s opprobrium towards murder and attempted murder linked to domestic violence, are not departed from without good reason.”

Lisa Vetten, a well-known activist and researcher in the field of gender-based violence, welcomed the judge’s stance.

“There is not much evidence that warning labels on alcohol works, but I want to applaud him for thinking of ways to fix the system,” she said. Vetten added that the sale of liquor remains poorly regulated in South Africa despite the clear links between alcohol consumption and domestic violence.

Govindjee set out the circumstances that led up to Nonze’s murder in his reasons for the sentence.

Manyathi and Nonze were living together for three years. They were both drunk when they started fighting on 3 December 2023. The fight was triggered by a phone call from an “unknown male caller”. Manyathi then poured the contents of a bottle of brandy over Nonze, broke a glass and stabbed her in the head, face, neck and hands.

“Although angry and under the influence of alcohol, he admitted that he knew what he was doing at the time,” read the judgment.

Six months later, the day of Nonze’s death, Manyathi saw that she had left their home. He was drinking alcohol again and, when she returned, they had another altercation and he pushed her, strangled and beat her.

“The photographs of the body accepted into evidence reflect the horrific effect of [Manyathi’s] actions on Nonze’s head, face and neck. In addition to the severe physical pain that she would have suffered, the inability to breathe would have caused [her] anguish of the mind.

“Having strangled and assaulted Nonze in this manner, Manyathi proceeded to the lounge and continued to speak to her before realising that she was unresponsive and had died. He then covered the body with a blanket and left the house,” Judge Govindjee continued. “The accused felt bad about what he had done, and confessed to his mother and sister some three days later, breaking down and crying, and planning to kill himself rather than go to prison.”

The court heard, however, that Manyathi had tried to evade arrest by hiding in the bush for two hours.

He failed matric and has three children with three women. He worked as a windscreen fitter until November 2023. Nonze, who worked at Rhodes University, became the sole breadwinner in their home. She didn’t have children.

“It may be accepted that Manyathi’s state of mind was affected by his consumption of alcohol and his perceptions that his partner was being unfaithful to him. Rather than being a premeditated act, the mix of the two served as the catalyst for the brutality that followed on both occasions,” said Govindjee.

The Human Sciences Research Council conducted the first study on the prevalence of gender-based violence in South Africa in 2022 and published the results in 2024. It links alcohol use to increased chances of being both a victim and a perpetrator. Male “hazardous alcohol drinkers” were found to have a greater chance of becoming a perpetrator of both physical and sexual violence.

Anelisa Bentele from Isikhalo, an anti-gender-based violence activist group, said although alcohol definitely plays a role in domestic violence, as most perpetrators are drunk when they carry out assaults, patriarchy also plays a role.

“We need to tackle this from the foundation phase. Children have books that teach them that the boy child is superior to the girl child. This fight starts in the education system,” she said.

Bentele added that many children grow up in abusive homes and that some men assault their partners while they are sober as well.

She said the most tragic part of this case was that Nonze had tried to obtain a protection order against Manyathi, but on the day that she had to appear in court for the application, he had already killed her. “I must also tell you that we are not very happy with this sentence. We wanted life imprisonment.”

Daily Maverick approached both the alcohol industry and Minister Motsoaledi for comment, but received none. DM


Help with your liquor licence

SD Law supports responsible drinking and supply of alcohol.

If your liquor licence application renewal is outstanding we can help you with submission and the correct documentation. We can handle objections and manage any compliance issues. Get legal help with your liquor licence application here.

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