Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(S.Afr. township) beer.

1977		P.C. Venter Soweto 127: ‘Auntie Thandi,’ he grinned, ‘what about a popla?’ ‘This is a house [...] not a beer hall.’.
1979		A. Brink Dry White Season 252: You pass out. And then we bring you round with popla.
1985		Style Oct. 41: Sweet relief from these heavy pressures comes in the form of the ‘phuza-cabin’ or ‘spot’ (shebeen) where you drink ‘ubrown’ (brandy) or ‘poplars’ (beer) with your ‘phuza-buddies’ Or any good guy you can call your ‘bra’ [DSAE].