SOFT drinks giant Coca-Cola has bought the soft drinks business of Cadbury-Schweppes in South Africa for R1,5-billion. The sale includes the operations of Cadbury-Schweppes in Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland. It is still subject to the approval of shareholders in the company. But Peter Bester, the chairman of Cadbury-Schweppes South Africa said Cadbury-Schweppes plc, which owns 55% of the shares, has “given an irrevocable undertaking to vote in favour of the transaction.” The South African Competition Board has also given the sale the go-ahead. Under the deal Coca-Cola intends adding well-known Cadbury-Schweppes drinks such as Lemon Twist, Soda Water, Tonic Water and Sparkling Granadilla to its brand portfolio.