Liquor Act implemented – Minister Winde has my full support: Media release by Dan Plato, Western Cape MEC of Community Safety

Following the promulgation of the Western Cape’s new liquor laws, I will be speaking to Western Cape Police Commissioner, General Arno Lamoer about South African Police Service (SAPS) plans to implement the act and clamp down on the illegal sale and distribution of alcohol in this province.

I would like to congratulate my colleague, the MEC of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Alan Winde, for successfully bringing the remaining provisions of the Western Cape Liquor Act, the Western Cape Liquor Amendment Act, and the Western Cape Liquor Regulations, into effect yesterday, 1 April 2012.

I have assured MEC Winde that he has my office’s full support to ensure that illegal liquor outlets are shut down, their liquor confiscated and the suppliers identified. We will ensure that the police take action against everyone involved in contravening the Act, offenders will receive heavy penalties, seizure of assets and/or jail time.

Through our better together approach we will work together with the SAPS and Metro Police, who have already had several successes in curbing the illegal sale of alcohol to make the Western Cape a safer place for all our citizens. The burden of disease associated with alcohol-related road accidents, violence and other trauma and illness in the Western Cape costs this Government in the region of R6 billion every year. This is money that could have been far better spent on improving service delivery for the Western Cape.

The Western Cape Liquor Act is one of our strongest tools in the fight against the illegal sale and distribution of alcohol.

Together with my colleague, MEC Winde, and the City of Cape Town’s Mayco Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, we will join forces with the police to shut down illegal shebeens and ensure that establishments in residential areas comply with the liquor laws.

Media enquiries:
Dan Plato
MEC of Community Safety
Cell: 076 832 5505

Greg Wagner
Spokesperson for MEC Plato
Cell: 072 623 4499