LIMPOPO – According to police spokesperson Lt Col Moatshe Ngoepe, police had confiscated large quantities of liquor during a joint clean-up operation.
Ngoepe says this was done in dealing with generators of crime, such as contravening the liquor act which often becomes a factor in contact crimes.
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On Wednesday, police embarked on the open destruction of all recovered liquor in Vuwani, outside Thohoyandou.
Ngoepe says this session was led by the Vuwani Saps Station Commander, Colonel David Nemudzivhadi, who was accompanied by the Section Head of FLASH, Colonel Schalk Van Schalk Wyk and Lt Colonel Charles Mhlanga as well as the Provincial Head of Corporate Communication Media Centre LT. Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe.
Photo: Lim SAPS
Joining them were the provincial liquor board led by Director Dion Pelser, liquor inspectors and the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism.
“A number of shebeens were shut down throughout the Vuwani policing area, targeting places where contact crimes such as murder and assault were prevalent,” Ngoepe explained.
A total of R532 180.74 worth of different liquor was destroyed in full view of all the above-mentioned role players.
Ngoepe says a liquor outlet owner in Vuwani was arrested and sentenced to R5 000.00 or 12 months imprisonment for selling liquor without licence.
“We hope this sentence will serve as a deterrent to all the liquor act contraveners,” he says.
Colonel Mhlanga encouraged all police stations throughout Limpopo to follow suit, especially during the festive season, as part of the mass crime prevention operation ‘festive season’, which is still up and running.
Ngoepe says the South African Police Service has declared war against any contravention of the Liquor Act, without compromise.
“Liquor outlet owners are warned to comply fully with the prescripts of this Act, otherwise they are going to meet the full might of the Law,” warns Ngoepe.
