Report liquor licence contraventions, asks MEC
Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) MEC, Thabo Mokone, has called on members of the public as well as interested parties to lodge formal complaints whenever there are contraventions by liquor license holders.
According to Mokone, LEDET is the custodian of the Liquor Board. He said the Limpopo provincial government inherited former regulations from Venda and Lebowa and Gazankulu homelands where the distance between schools and places of worship were not stipulated. Further to this, the National Liquor Act 27 of 1989, also did not prohibit issuing of licenses next to schools. It simply required the licence holder to not disturb proceedings of schools, churches and residential areas.
He said the current legislation does not give the authority to close these licensed liquor outlets just because they are next to schools. However, when non-compliance issues occur by liquor license holders operating next to a school and a formal complaint is lodged, the board intervenes by issuing a notice to appear before the board. The only provision in the Act for closure of liquor outlet is when it is threatening violence, riots, public disorder and strike which is likely to cause public disturbance.
Also read: Non-compliant liquor traders fined
In 2013, the Limpopo Liquor Act was passed with new regulations thereunder. This legislation addresses the issues of proximity of liquor licensed premises to schools and churches. The National Liquor Policy, 2016 further directs that liquor premises should be located at least 500m away from schools, places for worship, recreation facilities, rehabilitation or treatment centers, residential areas and public institutions. Premises already licensed within the 500m radius and premises within high-density locations will have to comply with the norms and standards issued from time to time, providing for, among others, the issue of trading hours, noise, nuisance and pollution.
Also read: Liquor businesses flourish in level 3
LEDET has as part of responding to complaints and mitigating future complaints, ensured that joint liquor operations were conducted from April 2021 to December 2021. During these operations 1759 licensed outlets were visited for compliance and monitoring. 629 fines were issued, 15 illegally operating taverns were raided and 909 liters of alcohol confiscated. Mokone said that his department will continue offering the necessary support to all licensed operating outlets, without discriminating. He has also encouraged the board to cancel, suspend, or give strict conditions to outlets that are contravening the Act by causing noise, nuisance, and pollution.
