Media Release

24 February 2026

Liquor traders are reminded about deadline for the renewal of their liquor licences

Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) wishes to remind all its licenced liquor traders that they have until the 28^th of February 2026 to renew their liquor licences. Failure to meet this deadline will regrettably result in liquor traders having to pay penalties.

For example, liquor traders who miss the 28^th of February will be liable for a 50% penalty if they pay on or before the 31^st of March 2026. Those who fail to renew their liquor licences by the end of March will be liable for 100% late payment penalty.

Liquor traders are further reminded that if they do not pay renewal fees with the prescribed schedules, their liquor licences will be revoked and will be compelled to stop trading with immediate effect. Continuing with trading with an expired and/or unrenewed liquor licence is a gross violation of trading conditions and those liquor traders will be subjected to serious actions as prescribed by the law.

Liquor traders can use ECLB banking details banking details:

Account Holder: EASTERN CAPE LIQUOR BOARD

Bank: ABSA bank

Account Number: 4112667310

Branch Code: 632005

Listed Beneficiary: ECLIQUORBD

Payment Reference: Full ECP reference number as per license certificate

Liquor traders are urged to timeously renew their liquor licences and avoid losing your license. For more information you can contact Mgwebi Msiya at 060 501 6418 or 043 700 0900, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Medi Release

02 December 2025

Eastern Cape Liquor Board announcement of the 2025 renewal period

The Eastern Cape Liquor Board hereby announce the commencement of the renewal period as from the 01 December 2025.

Renewing your liquor license is crucial to avoid deregistration and potential legal issues.

In fact, failure to renew can lead to illegal trading, which undermines the Board's efforts to combat unauthorized taverns in the province.

Key Dates for Licence Holders:

- 1 December 2025 to 28 February 2026: Renewal fees payable without penalties.

- 1 March 2026 to 31 March 2026: Renewal fees payable with a 50% penalty.

- 1 April 2026 to 30 September 2026: Renewal fees payable with a 100% penalty.

No renewal fees will be accepted after 30 September 2026, and the licence will be cancelled without further notice.

Remember, stay compliant and renew your liquor license on time to avoid any complications!

For more information, please contact the spokesperson, Dr. Mgwebi Msiya, at 060 501 6418 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Media Release

20 November 2025

Eastern Cape Liquor Board admonishes learners against contemplated "Pens Down Parties" in the Province 

The Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) sends a stern warning to learners in

the Eastern Cape following reports of the contemplated "pens down parties”

across the province in preparation for the end of the year examinations.

These gatherings are often characterised by excessive alcohol

consumption and inherently pose serious risks to learners’ well-being and safety.

As end-of-the-year examinations are drawing closer to an end,

the ECLB has received numerous reports of planned parties in

different parts/areas of the province. The tip-offs on planned

pens down parties have been received through the ECLB’s

learner ambassadors from different municipalities. Majority

of these pens down parties are being planned for 21^st and

22^nd of November, which is the period when examinations will be coming to an end.

All the received tip-offs have promptly been referred to the

law enforcement so they can take an urgent action to stop them.

Parents are encouraged to closely monitor their children's activities

/movements and report any suspicious gatherings.

The ECLB Chief Executive Officer, Dr Makala, is sending a

stern warning to learners who are contemplating pens down

parties and says: "I wish to unequivocally send a strong warning

to all learners who are planning pens down parties and would like

to assure them that, working with various law enforcement agencies,

we will be closely monitoring them. Learners must also be advised that

law enforcement officers and ECLB liquor inspectors will be all out across

the province to ensure that these parties are stopped and prevented from

being hosted and drastic action will be taken against young learners who

host these parties."

The CEO further stressed, “As the Province we cannot afford the repeat of

the 2022 devastating incident of Enyobeni Tavern in which we regrettably

lost twenty-one of our young people due to a pens down party.

We further urge parents and members of the community to be extremely

vigilant during this period to ensure that contemplated pens down parties

are prevented and our young people are encouraged to identify other

constructive ways of celebrating end of the year examinations.”

Added the CEO, “We also urge liquor traders in the province to refrain

from hosting these parties in their premises and where we find a liquor

trader violating this condition we will not hesitate to take a drastic action,

including immediate cancellation of their liquor licences.”

ECLB invites all parents and members of the community to be proactive

and closely monitor young people and ensure that any suspicion,

unsupervised gatherings are stopped with immediate effect.

Members of the community can report the pens down parties to

nearest law enforcement agency or call 10111. They can also report

to ECLB via Toll-Free: 080 000 0420 or WhatsApp: 076 403 6223.

For media inquiries: Mgwebi Msiya 060 501 6418/ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Media Invite
To All Media
23 October 2025

Eastern Cape Liquor Board to launch ambassadorship programme to fight Anti Pens Down Parties

Eastern Cape Liquor Board Launches Ambassadorship Programme to Fight
Underage Drinking and intensify the Anti Pens Down Campaign in Fort Beaufort.
Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) invites media representatives to the launch of its
ambassadorship programme, in conjunction with the "Anti Pens Down" campaign,
aimed at curbing underage drinking at end-of-term parties.
The aim of the campaign is to empower young people to promote positive
behavioural change and discourage underage drinking through peer-to-peer
education.
The campaign seeks to further encourage parents and community members to
monitor and report suspicious gatherings to the nearest police station or ECLB (Toll-
Free: 080 000 0420; WhatsApp: 076 403 6223).

Event Details:

Date: 24 October 2025
Time: 10:00 - 13:00
Venue: Fort Beaufort Town Hall
For inquiries, please contact Mgwebi Msiya at 060 501 6418 or
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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-Issued by: Eastern Cape Liquor Board-