Fifteen Liquor Outlets Closed in Kimberley Blitz
A joint-operation comprising of the National Liquor Authority (NLA) arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) in partnership with the Northern Cape Liquor Board, the South African Police Services and Home Affairs closed down fifteen liquor outlets that were found to be non-compliant as per their licensing conditions. This happened during a blitz inspection operation that took place in Kimberley and surrounding areas at the weekend.
The Director of Legal Support and Prosecutions at the NLA, Advocate Sandile Nkosi said this operation emanated from intelligence reports which highlighted Northern Cape as having the highest rate of non-compliant liquor traders in the country.
“I am saddened to reveal that our intelligence reports have been proven to be true and that traders are putting profit before the well-being of our citizens. During the blitz, we discovered minors as young as twelve-years old in taverns at hours when they were supposed to be in bed. Some of the traders were found to be operating beyond their trading hours and were selling liquor to patrons that were already heavily intoxicated, which is a gross violation of the Liquor Act,” said Nkosi.
He added that in addition to the closed-down businesses, twelve were issued with fines amounting to R16 000, and twelve foreign nationals were arrested for either being in possession of fraudulent documentation or illegally operating liquor outlets therefore contravening their asylum conditions.
The Northern Cape Liquor Board Chief Executive Officer, Ms Rudessa Andrews added that of the taverns inspected many were found to be non-compliant on health safety regulations.
“Some of the places had poor ventilation, there were no clearly defined escape routes in the event of an emergency and the ablution facilities were of poor standards. We have also found that liquor outlets in the Kimberley central business district are allowing mothers with infants onto their premises,” said Andrews.
She added that the closed outlets will be monitored by the SAPS to ensure that they do not operate again until they present themselves to the board for a review of their licenses.
The SAPS Galeshewe Acting Cluster Commander, Brigadier Francis Hender said he appreciated the integrated approach that was undertaken for this operation.
“Alcohol abuse is the biggest source of our contact crimes and we must ensure that we conduct and strengthen these operations on a regular basis to rid our communities of this scourge,” he said.
“With this operation we have achieved the goals we had set for ourselves. We had the intelligence that traders were flouting the laws and we need to look closely at non-compliant traders,” said Nkosi.
the dti has published the National Liquor Policy for comment until 13 August 2015 and urges the public to comment. The policy proposes among others that the liquor consumption age be increased to 21 years of age.
Liquor officials inspecting documents at an outlet in Kimberley.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe-Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
