Dollar Table trading licence cancelled
MELVILLE– The Gauteng Liquor Board speaks out on the validity of the liquor licence of Dollar Table Café and Cocktail Lounge.
Dollar Table Café and Cocktail Lounge has been technically operating under a valid licence, according to Malebo Malebo director of compliance and law enforcement for the Gauteng Liquor Licencing Unit.
This statement comes after numerous statements by the media stating that Dollar Table had no operating licence.
“The problem is that they had a restaurant licence from Soi but they were running the place as a night club. The place does not resemble a restaurant at all,” Malebo said.
This licence has, however, been cancelled meaning, the lounge cannot open for business.
“Dollar Table has been operating under a restaurant licence from Soi which owned a restaurant before it became Dollar Table,” he said and indicated that Soi had requested the licence to be cancelled “…they sent me their Cipro documents and I asked them for an affidavit but I have all the required documents to cancel the licence,” informed Malebo.
Malebo added that when a business is in the process of transferring a licence from one person to the other, business should continue as usual because there is a valid licence to trade.
“The Dollar Table owner came to me and I told him the owners are cancelling therefore, he has the right to put forward a new application of his own because we cannot transfer a licence that has been cancelled,” Malebo continued. “This fellow [Dollar Table owner] is not telling the truth because he says he applied three years ago but our turn-around is not more than 45 days.”
Malebo said the Liquor Board checks licences around the area often but the problem is that some businesses have restaurant licences that they use for clubs.
“We cannot just shut down a place because of [licence] violation…we try to talk to them, warn them and revoking is the last resort…,”he continued.
Going forward therefore, if the Dollar Table owner wishes to continue trading he must apply for a new licence.
“When he applies, it is an open application to which people can object. He must advertise in the Government Gazette and two newspapers and also leave a notice on the building, stating their intentions,” concluded Malebo.
The infamous bar where Thulani Popoyi was found hacked to death on 5 October has had its premises cleaned by staffers on 16 October just two days after Popoyi’s burial.
Family members of the deceased are outraged as are residents at the possibility of it reopening.
Do you think the Dollar Table owner should be granted a liquor licence of his own?
Malebo Malebo is glossing over the truth. The Gauteng Liquor Board never bothered to check if Soi was aware of this alleged transfer application. The sum total of communication was from the RandLord Joel Nankin to The respected Soi owners to tell them that there was an interest in taking over the license. Thats were it ended and in this fradulently run establishment Thulane Lost his life. Thats the truth .
A landlord has an obligation to take action if he becomes aware of serious legal infringements by tenants on his property.
As for the liquor board, they should be enforcing the law without fear or favor, and need to demonstrate their ability to act decisively in matters such as this. Just talking is not going to clean up the mess at the top of seventh avenue. There are several establishments which are nothing more than drinking holes, and they need to comply or leave.
I believe that the liquor Board could easily bring the rogue liquor traders in Melville to heel. For some strange reason they seem to be reluctant to take real action. I wonder why.
I am aware of this having been brought to the ward councellors attention and liquor boards attention at the begining of the year already. No one responded to requests
Dear Ancillar (author of this article) please can you write an article on what community members of Melville who have issues with similar establishments can do and who they can practically call (not which number is advertised for the liquor board etc as these normally go to voice mail on emails bounce).
Unfortunately Dollar Table was the only one. I enjoy quite a few of the bars in Melville but am aware of a number of places falsely operating on restaurant licences with partying etc as well.
It really sad that that the liqour department had to even cancel this lease, RandLord Joel Nankin should have immediately terminated the lease. Restaurant owners had also been telling him for ages prior to this incident this place was a problem and he had said he would. Alas
Colin I am sorry for your loss.
Another week without a formal landscape from the liquor board. Thats okay i wont rest .
To the people that accepted bribes or whatever was offered you are marked. My Thulanes death will not count for nothing. i hope the spineless whining restuarants, businesses and residents get some swash to their buckle. Pathetic.
Please post the names of all the persons at the liquor board you have been in contact with and email addresses on this sight so that the community can all follow up with them. I see the Lighthouse on 7th has now also been closed down. Seems like checks have been happening.
Thanks