South African couple die drinking homemade beer

A South African couple have died after drinking home-brewed beer made because of the country's strict alcohol restrictions.

Tony Hilliar, 54 and Alida Frouche, 42, had created the batch at their Port Nolloth home because of a ban on the sale of alcohol that was introduced in March.

South Africa stopped the sale of alcohol when lockdown measures came into place on March 27.

Police believe the couple both fell ill last week after deciding to drink the homemade beer.

Mr Hilliar was able to call emergency services and was found slipping in and out of consciousness a short time later.

Ms Frouche was already dead by the time paramedics arrived and Mr Hilliar died a few days later in hospital.

Investigators believe the couple died from alcohol poisoning and say two empty bottles as well as the rest of the untouched batch of home brew were collected as evidence.

A friend of the couple told The Sun that the couple enjoyed having a drink after work and blamed the South African Government's ban on alcohol for their death.

"Everyone is making their own beer so Tony did as well but it seems something went terribly wrong with the brew and that they both collapsed and died very senseless deaths," Tommy Bancroft told The Sun.

As well as the controversial ban on the sale of alcohol, the South African Government has also banned cigarette sales.

Professor Salim Abdool Karim, one of the government's top health advisers in the COVID-19 pandemic, defended the alcohol ban last week, saying alcohol is a significant contributing factor to violent crime and road accidents in South Africa and banning its sale has reduced pressure on medical services.

Others have argued that alcohol should still be sold, but for consumption at home only.

Major brewers like South African Breweries (SAB) say they have lost millions of dollars since the ban came into place, having to destroy most of their stock.

The transport of alcohol has also been banned in the country, with thousands of jobs affected as well.

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