UPDATE: Rynfield venue owners: We had no idea underage drinking was happening
The wool was apparently pulled over the eyes of the owners of Zir Coffee and Car Wash when they rented out their function hall to three young adults on Friday night.
The City Times on Saturday published an article where police, with help from the Benoni Community Policing Forum (CPF), searched the venue where children were apparently drinking and using drugs.
READ:
Teens engaged in apparent underage drinking, drug use in Rynfield told to go home
A message from the police circulated on social media said about 350 people were at the venue on Uys Street in Rynfield Agricultural Holdings.
“Most of the children were between the ages of 12 and 14 years and were being sold alcohol at the bar and were under the influence of either alcohol or drugs,” the message read.
News of the incident has caused a buzz on social media, with some lambasting the venue owners for the incident.
Owners of the establishment, Japie and Liesl Mostert, said they rented out their venue to three young adults who are over the age of 18.
A woman who identified herself as the mother of one of the three accompanied them when they spoke to the Mosterts prior to the party.
The husband and wife said they were told there would be 50 people on the night, all of whom would be over the age of 18.
The owners said they only sold cold drinks at the function venue on the property.
To monitor those who entered the premises, they stationed two employees at the entrance to Zir to check the contents of the vehicles. These employees were also instructed to ask patrons for ID if they were in possession of alcohol.
Japie said the party-goers were calm, and he made a few trips to the area around the venue to see if all was well, which he thought it was.
Before long, he received an SMS notifying him that police were en route to raid the business premises.
Liesl said police switched off the music.
To her knowledge, police found alcohol and a pipe which they were told is used to smoke dagga.
The couple said they had no idea underage drinking was taking place, saying that had they known, they would have phoned the police on their own accord.
Japie said the unfortunate incident could have been avoided had the three young adults and the mother (it was later revealed she was not the mother, as her apparent son’s real mother is dead) played open cards.
“They got me,” said Japie.
Liesl said they didn’t know there would be so many guests, and had they known, they would have had better structures in place at the entry point.
Japie said he later found out three invites to the party had been circulated on social media.
Some stated there would be a cash bar, and others said guests would receive a complimentary shooter upon arrival.
The organisers apparently charged R60 (girls) and R80 (boys) at the gate, which the venue owners said they were not aware of.
Japie said he will never again let out the venue to youngsters if there is no adult supervision.
Community service
The City Times has learnt that the three youngsters who organised the bash commenced community service hours at the Benoni Police Station today (December 13).
Also read:
Man arrested for possession of drugs
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