The government  banned the sale of alcohol for more than four months from April last year, but later deferred R5bn in excise taxes for July and August.

The country’s alcohol industry pays an average R2.5bn per month in excise tax, the statement said, adding that the ban has left the industry in a “precarious” state.

“The industry faces an enormous financial crisis  and its capacity to make these payments is severely constrained," said the SA Liquor Brand owners Association, which represents companies such as Distell Group, Diageo Plc, Pernod Ricard and others.

The alcohol ban was introduced in December for the second time in nine months as coronavirus infections spiked in the country.

SA, which has recorded more than a third of all coronavirus cases on the continent, reported record-high daily new cases last week, with total cumulative infections topping 1.2m and more than 33,000 deaths.