North West Liquor Board to take actions against Boitumelo Sports Bar in Klerksdorp
North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism expressed a concern on the conduct shown by the owner of Boitumelo Sports Bar, situated in Klerksdorp, Matlosana Local Municipality of not adhering to the Covid -19 lockdown regulations earlier this week.
It was brought to the attention of the Department that on Tuesday, the bar hosted an “Öpen deck sessions” where the owner allowed more than 50 patrons to enter the premises and not practising Covid -19 precautionary measures as outlined in the Disaster Management Act and Lockdown Regulations Alert Level 2.
“The Department after receiving the complaint dispatched its Liquor Inspectors accompanied by South African Police Service and Municipal Environmental Health Practitioners to the outlet to further investigate the matter. The team determines that the owner has contravened various legislations which includes the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 and the Liquor Act 27 of 1989 as amended, of adhering to the sale of alcohol with restrictions on all the health protocols of ensuring that patrons wear masks and practise social distancing to limit the exposure to Covid 19, said Ms Onnica Sithole: Departmental Chief Director for Business Regulations.
Upon arrival it was determined that the premises does not have any social distancing markings on the floor and chairs, no attendance register for contact tracing and also selling food without a valid certificate of acceptability and have closed after 22h00.
Sithole pointed out that in terms of Alert level 2 Regulations 61(1) (b) that the sales of liquor is subject to curfew 22h00- 04h00 and all liquor traders must act responsibly of letting their patrons to leave the premises on time to avoid contravening this regulations.
“The department’s major concern is that the license holder is posing a serious danger to humanity of perpetuating the spread of the corona virus which has claimed the lives of people locally and internationally, said Sithole.
The license holder admitted guilt of the offense and was issued with a fine of R2000 and will appear at the local magistrate court on the 7th September 2020.
Section 141of the Liquor Act mandated SAPS to submit a comprehensive report to the North West Liquor Board for take immediate action.
The Department will intensify its compliance inspections in all the districts to ensure enforcement of the regulations and urge community members to contact its regions offices or relevant law enforcement agencies to report any transgressions.
For enquiries please contact:
Dumisa Seshabela
Cell: 079 522 7375
E-mail: dseshabela@nwpg.gov.za
