Cape Town - Bait operations conducted by undercover police aligned to the City of Cape Town’s liquor enforcement unit have resulted in theclosure of seven shebeens, taverns and nightclubs.
Mayco member for Safety and Security JP Smith said four suspects were arrested for contravening the Liquor Act by selling alcohol illegally.
The operations focused on establishments in Mitchells Plain, Gugulethu, Philippi East, Lwandle, Nyanga, Belhar and Khayelitsha.
The Western Cape Shebeens Association has welcomed the rooting out of liquor outlets that were not complying with the liquor laws, and the Department of Trade and Industry said it had started workshops to educate liquor outlets and the public about liquor policies and laws.
The city’s liquor enforcement unit teamed up with the police and the Western Cape Liquor Authority (WCLA), and inspected 39 premises, issuing fines totalling R14 000 for various by-law contraventions.
WCLA spokesperson Philip Prinsloo said the liquor authority had issued fines totalling R185 000 and revoked six licences for the past year across the province.
The closure of the shebeens, taverns and night clubs follows that of Osi’s Place in Khayelitsha, where eight young women died after a stampede on June 28.
The Western Cape Liquor Authority has temporarily suspended the liquor licence of Osi’s Place, pending a final ruling on September 21.
“The results are clear to see,” said Smith. “Alcohol abuse is a major contributor to social ills, so we cannot afford to go easy on those who flout the law.”
Smith urged members of the public to help report illegal liquor outlets and also legal outlets not complying with their licences.
Prinsloo told the Cape Times that the authority would continue to provide enough space for economic growth and educate licence holders and the public about liquor by-laws.
“Continuous action would be taken against transgressors,” said Prinsloo.
Western Cape Shebeens Association chairperson Veliswa Poni said the name of shebeens and taverns have been tarnished by outlets that were not adhering to the laws.
She said her association was working with the authorities and community members to address illegal operating outlets.
The closure of the outlets comes while Trade and Industry is embarking on a public consultation workshop in Khayelitsha on the draft National Liquor Policy.
Department spokesperson Sidwell Medupe said written submissions on the policy closed two weeks ago, but the department would use the series of workshops to obtain oral comments and input to ensure that as many views as possible are taken into consideration.
Earlier this month, the city’s liquor enforcement unit issued fines totalling more than R17 000, made two arrests and confiscated 117 litres of alcohol.
Cape Times