Blitz on Durban liquor traders
Liquor traders in Durban were issued with warnings during a raid by SAPS and department officials this week.
SEVERAL licenced liquor traders were given warnings during a two-day inspection blitz conducted by officials from the Department of Trade and Industry , South African Police Service (SAPS) and Department of Social Development. The operation visited 24 outlets ranging from taverns, restaurants and distributors in Albert Park, South Beach and Point area in Durban.
Common contraventions included failure to display original licence on the licenced premises, foreigners operating liquor trade premises while in possession of asylum, visitors’ visas, inadequate ablution facilities, no emergency exits, gambling and drinking facilities not demarcated, as well as structural alterations not approved as prescribed.
According to the Director of Education and Awareness at the dti’s National Liquor Authority (NLA), Ms Khabonina Maxatshwa, the inspection blitz was a follow-up on the festive season campaign held in Durban during December 2015.
“The focus of this operation was to revisit those premises that were found to be non-compliant and then determine if there was any improvement in the area of compliance. The inspection blitz was also used to evaluate the impact of the operation in the enforcement of liquor regulations. This exercise proved to be effective and have produced positive results,” said Maxatshwa
Maxatshwa added that there was a significant reduction in non-compliance in the premises that were visited over the two days. This proves that more needs to be done to raise awareness on substance and liquor abuse resulting in the reduction of contact crimes.
KwaZulu-Natal SAPS Liquor Control’s Major Sherine Langkie stressed the importance of multi-pronged stakeholder approach in addressing alcohol and drug related crimes as well as compliance issues.
She said most importantly, areas such as Point which has more than 200 outlets in close proximity needed an integrated approach when dealing with issues of liquor act compliance and criminal activities that follow when people are intoxicated.
“It is also important for us to make sure that there is continuous monitoring on liquor trade premises to ensure 100% compliance in an effort to improve conditions of communities and to curb to scourge of alcohol and substance abuse. The SAPS will assist in ensuring that those premises that were issued with warnings are compliant.” she said.
Caption: Officials going through documentation during the Durban operation blitz this week.
