AN illegal tavern located behind Manilla Place in Umgeni Park has continued with its illicit activities as well as general disturbance of the community, despite intervention by local authorities.
Brian Daish of the Greenwood Park Community Policing Forum said he was at a loss as to what more could be done to alleviate the situation.
Not only had Greenwood Park SAPS arrested the tavern owner on several occasions and confiscated his liquor, but following the initial report in the Northglen News regarding community frustrations with the unlawful tavern, the KZN Liquor Authority had also prosecuted the owner.
Bonginkosi Buthelezi, the chairperson of the board, said after weeks of monitoring, members of the KZN Liquor Authority confirmed that the owner of the tavern was trading alcohol illegally and had subsequently arrested him and confiscated his liquor.
Buthelezi said that the suspect was charged with contravention of Section 38 (1) of the KZN Liquor Licencing Act 06 of 2010 (trading without a license).
What’s more, Daish said that the department of water and sanitation as well as the electricity department had cut the services to his establishment, however this has not thwarted his activities.
The unabated frustrations with the tavern in question were highlighted in January when an anonymous resident expressed frustration and outrage with regard to the noise and disturbance emanating from the property.
For months, the resident and her family have been subjected to loud music, late-night screaming as well as drunken bar brawls throughout the weekends.
“We moved into our new home in September last year and it has been a constant issue since then. We are woken up almost every weekend. It is difficult to get any rest, and then on Monday we are all exhausted. I have two boys who are in school and my husband and I both work,” she said.
“In addition to the loud music being played straight through the night, we often hear women screaming, drunken bar fights and glass bottles breaking. “It is extremely upsetting, especially for my children,” she added.
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