Former shebeen owners turned SAB Zenzele shareholders gather at Ellis Park Arena for their AGM
DOORNFONTEIN – Former shebeen owners-turned SAB Zenzele shareholders gather at the Ellis Park Arena for their Annual General Meeting.
More than 30 000 former shebeen owners running illegal watering holes in the townships have now become shareholders of the SAB Zenzele Holdings for Retailers and are now contributing to the tax revenue of the country.
This was disclosed by former Justice Minister Dr Penuell Maduna in an interview before the annual general meeting of the South African Breweries (SAB) Zenzele share scheme at the Ellis Park Arena in Doornfontein.
Maduna, now chairperson of the SAB Zenzele empowerment scheme which comprises shareholders from SAB Zenzele Holdings for Retailers, SAB Zenzele Employee Trust and the SAB Foundation, said gone are the days when the government wasted much-needed resources raiding illegal taverns and shutting them down.
“We have successfully converted more than 30 000 of these men and women into a good ship since 2009, and made them fully compliant with the liquor laws of the country, including the South African Revenue Service,” said Maduna.
“They’re now smart traders and businessmen and women who fully contribute their part to the tax base of this country, with more than R6 million paid annually to the taxman.”
Currently, Maduna said the SAB Zenzele scheme was a multi-billion rand project which has been successfully paying dividends to its shareholders since its inception eight years ago. He added that ongoing training was being provided to the former shebeen owners to ensure they were able to manage their money and also grow their businesses.
“Not so long ago they lived from hand to mouth but now they know how to invest their extra cash and grow it,” said Maduna, who described their meeting of well over 5 000 people as the country’s largest AGM.
Details: Azure Jannekker 011 881 8562; Azure.Janneker@za.sabmiller.com
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