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Applying for a liquor license is a lengthy and sometimes tiring process, from collecting the relevant documents to getting feedback after submissions. In Gauteng, prospective alcohol traders and licensing consultants will be relieved as the new system will make things a lot easier.
On Saturday, March 9, the Gauteng Liquor Board (GLB) met with the media and stakeholders in the liquor industry to introduce the Online Liquor Licensing System for the first time in public.
When will the online liquor licensing system be ready?
Set to officially launch on April 1st, the new system enables liquor license applicants to submit their applications from the convenience of their internet-enabled devices, anywhere and anytime.
Director for Client Relations Management at the GLB, Cleo Bodibe-Lushaba emphasized that is is time that the organization modernize its systems especially in the automated, digital age that we’re living in.
“If one want to apply or renew their license, they can go online and be able to do that. That way, you’re going to be saving time, money and just the stress of driving around – we know in Gauteng that can be a tedious exercise,” she said in her opening remarks.
The GLB is an agency under the Gauteng Department of Economic Development, enacted by the Liquor Act, to regulate the liqour industry in the province, by providing licensing and enforcement for alcohol traders and distributors.
GLB Chief Director, Advocate Fati Manamela urged the local liquor traders to get excited about the new system.
“We need your support. It is for you, not us. It is a way to create convenience in the manner in which we transact with yourselves. With your support for this system, it will be a success,” he said.
Providing a detailed overview of the online liquor licensing system, Zimele Technologies’ Sam Mandebvu, said the new system was made using all aspects of the Gauteng Liquor Act (Act 2 of 2003), enabling them to create an automated online platform that follows all the specified regulations.
The service provider, Zinhle Technologies, is an experienced and SAP Gold certified solutions company that built the Online Liquor Application system.
How does the GLB Online Liquor Licensing System work?
The prospective applicant firsts registers an account on the system, then the user confirms the account via an email link. The link will reset the provided password to provide the user to create their own secure password.
Besides liquor applications, other services have been added including making changes to an existing license, tracking applications and all other services offered by the Gauteng Liquor Board.
Once the applicant is registered, they can now start a new liquor license application. They complete their personal information, including residential address. All questions on the form are also listed on the system. Because the process is long, the user can save their progress. In the final stage, all documents can be uploaded on the system (pdf files). The system will not accept incomplete applications.
Tracking the application is possible on the system, the applicant is alerted throughout the entire process as their submission moves through each step of the process. Applications have a turnaround time between 90-120 days currently and the GLB aims to reduce the period.
What do stakeholders say?
Many of the invited stakeholder, made up of local traders, alcohol companies and community-based organizations that are part of local committees welcomed the new system. During the engagements, questions of the system’s capacity and the need to include other stakeholders (like affected community members for comment) in the system were raised.
