By Zoleka Lisa Many of us have had to balance our own personal and professional challenges whilst trying to navigate the completely unpredictable and unchartered terrain that is COVID-19. As a mom and busy executive, I constantly balance many responsibilities, always striving to do my best every day, whether it’s for my children, my colleagues, my industry or even my country.

The SAB Foundation has announced the 17 finalists in its tenth annual Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards. Earlier this month, 17 finalists received awards and grants up to the value of R1.3 million. A total of R12.6 million was awarded to social innovators and entrepreneurs.

The industry lost over R36bn in revenue and over 200 000 jobs as a result of the three alcohol bans according to research conducted by FTI Consulting’s Economic Research Unit In addition, together with the rest of the South African alcohol industry, we are gravely concerned with the above inflation increases to excise tax announced this week. An 8% increase in excise tax will further strain the alcohol industry, increasing risks to jobs and businesses in the value chain. The tax adjustments do not take into consideration a significant increase in the size and efficiency of the illicit market that has grown during the sales bans.

The ban may be lifted, but we can’t ignore the toll on women. Please give our women in beer a fighting chance. By Zoleka Lisa Only two months into a new year, one realises that times are really tough. 2021 is showing itself to be the sequel to the hardship that was 2020. The reality is that, many of us have had to balance our own personal and professional challenges whilst trying to navigate the completely unpredictable and unchartered terrain that is COVID-19. As a mom and busy executive, I constantly balance many responsibilities, always striving to do my best every day, whether it’s for my children, my colleagues, my industry or even my country.

Only two months into a new year, one realises that times are really tough. 2021 is showing itself to be the sequel to the hardship that was 2020. The reality is that, many of us have had to balance our own personal and professional challenges whilst trying to navigate the completely unpredictable and unchartered terrain that is COVID-19. As a mom and busy executive, I constantly balance many responsibilities, always striving to do my best every day, whether it’s for my children, my colleagues, my industry or even my country.

R12.6 MILLION SET TO BE AWARDED TO FINALISTS IN SOCIAL INNOVATION AWARDS [20 January 2020] The SAB Foundation has announced the 17 finalists in its tenth annual Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards. The final winners, including six finalists in its fifth annual Disability Empowerment Awards, will be announced at a virtual award ceremony on 9 February 2021.

The South African alcohol industry, which contributes R173 billion or 3.4% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), lost R21.8 billion in revenue during the first two alcohol bans in 2020. An extended third ban is currently underway. With another implementation of a ban spanning at least seven weeks this increases the loss to R30.4 billion.

Alcohol distribution company owner Alistair Shapiro is not going to let the third alcohol sales ban grind his business and lifeblood to a halt. Not two days after the announcement of the third ban on the sale of alcohol which took effect as of 29 December 2020, and owner of Shapiro Distributors, Alistair Shapiro was forced to call an emergency meeting with his employees.

Founder and owner of Ntombi’s Tavern in Tembisa, Ntombi Sibiya, can no longer let her constitutional rights be stripped away and has decided to take a stand for all those who depend on her. After a hard week’s work the people of Tembisa flock to their favourite local watering hole, Ntombi’s Tavern, to connect with their community and reminisce on the ups and downs of life as we know it. Or at least they used to as this once thriving small business was again forced to shut down due to the third ban on alcohol sales enforced by the National Command Council (NCCC) on 29 December 2020.

South African Breweries (SAB) has cancelled a further R2.5bn of capital investment following the third ban on alcohol sales, bringing to R5bn the brewer’s cancelled capital expenditure in South Africa since alcohol sales bans were introduced in 2020. At the height of the second ban on the sale of alcohol in August 2020, SAB announced the cancellation of R2.5bn worth of South African investments for its annual capital and infrastructure upgrade programmes. At the time, the brewer said it would place a further R2.5bn of planned expenditure earmarked for the 2021 financial year under review, pending greater policy and regulatory certainty.