South African Breweries will be investing about R10 million to extend and upgrade its Eastern Cape facilities in East London, Port Elizabeth, Queenstown and Aliwal North.

This was what SAB spokesman Khaya Ndimba told a Border-Kei Chamber of Business (BKCOB) function at the weekend.

Ndimba said 80 percent of South Africa's multibillion-rand liquor trade remained unlicensed.

Breweries realised the urgency of acting proactively to bring the country's 15 000 illegal shebeen owners into the formal liquor industry.

To this end the group has set aside close on R2m for the education and business training of taverners who want to legitimise their operations.

"The importance of the Eastern Cape to SAB is reflected by the fact that the major slice of this training fund - R1,6m - will be invested in this province, in which 2 000 of the country's illegal taverners and shebeen owners operate," Ndimba said.

The Absa banking group would also become involved in the project, Ndimba added.

Speaking at the same occasion, BKCOB chief executive Les Holbrook disclosed that nine of the organisation's member companies had pledged R410000 to help fund and resource a BKCOB value-added programme.

This would include the expansion of the organisation's regional footprint and its black membership base.

The contributors are DaimlerChrysler South Africa, Meeg Bank, Absa, East London IDZ Corporation, Eastern Cape Development Corporation, Eskom, First National Battery, Johnson & Johnson and Real People.

The BKCOB's 775 member companies represent a net capital investment of R112 billion, with an annual turnover of R45bn.

Chamber members collectively have an annual wage and salary bill of R5,7bn, paid to 45 000 employees.