On June 22 close to 3 677 975ml of confiscated liquor were disposed of at Krugersdorp Police Station.
A staggering 6 750 bottles of alcoholic beverages (6 639 bottles of beer and cider, and 111 bottles of spirits) were confiscated during operations that took place from January until May this year. Home-brewed liquor gets destroyed on the spot during operations due to its volatile nature. The liquor was confiscated by members of the 13 police stations in the West Rand District which include the Krugersdorp, Kagiso and Randfontein Police Stations.
“Illegal liquor outlets and the abuse of alcohol contribute to serious and violent crimes, including gender-based violence. In an effort to minimise the level of crime, police in the West Rand District, working with the Gauteng Liquor Board and other law-enforcement agencies, have been closing down illegal liquor outlets, issuing fines to liquor outlets not complying with licence regulations, and confiscating liquor found at those premises during Operation OKae Molao and other crime-prevention operations,” said Krugersdorp police spokesperson, Captain Raymond Sebonyane.
Major General Fred Kekana, the West Rand District Police commissioner told media that the bottles are not broken because they are sold back to the manufacturers and breweries. Cans are recycled. The money is then put into a government Treasury fund. The painstaking process of opening each bottle or can and pouring its content into a drain can take up to six hours, said Kekana.
Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) had to be informed of the event in advance in order for them to prepare the drains that were going to be used.
Kekana told the media that the aim of the exercise was to show the public what was done with confiscated liquor and to quell rumours that it ended up in police members’ liquor cabinets.
As a District, we will formally destroy liquor every quarter for the public to see,” said Kekana.
Various local dignitaries attended the event, including West Rand District Municipality Mayor Hullet Hild.
