During this pandemic few issues have stirred as much heated and emotive debate, and provided a glimpse of the ruling party’s innate authoritarian tendencies, than the banning of the sale of alcohol. The industry is wilting with job losses mounting up and downstream, while doctors welcomed the extra ICU capacity, specifically over New Years.

The country’s largest brewer, SAB, has cancelled a further R2.5bn in new investment and says over 165,000 people have already lost their jobs as a result of alcohol bans...