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Youngsters enjoy drinking at taverns and shebeens

The idea of children drinking at a tavern in Everest has residents concerned about the consequences.

According to them the age of the children enjoying the tavern life varies between 10 and 14 years.

Nkula Tshabalala says the loud music is sometimes played until 4am, which makes it difficult to sleep.

But it is not only the noise that concerns Tshabalala and her neighbours.

They are concerned about the under age youth enjoying the tavern life.

She says some of these young girls are drinking and dancing with babies on their backs.

Her concern is what will happen to the babies when a fight breaks out at the tavern.

She says her heart aches when she thinks of the concequences it might have.

Captain Johannes Ramphora, spokesman for the Springs police, says they hold regular meetings with the residents about robbery, rape and other relevant subjects.

The police are having problems with the shebeens and held meetings with them.

Ramphora says selling liquor to minors is a crime and the police fine the tavern or shebeen owners.

When the police go into Everest to arrest them after the third fine, stones are being thrown at them.

Ward councillor Ramesh Sheodin says taverns should be regulated and have a prescribed closing time.

According to Ramphora they have an agreement with the shebeens and taverns to only stay open until 10pm, but the owners ignore the agreement.

Sheodin says the tavern owners are inconsiderate to the complains of the residents who have to live with all the noise, revelling and nuisance around them.

The sad thing is that many of the criminal activities in the informal settlement are liquor related and boys and girls are trapped in the mess.

Sanco members have called for a public crisis meeting to raise the public concerns.

The meeting will start at 9am on October 19 in front of Gugulethu Informal Settlement.

Paulos Dube, Sanco branch executive committee chairman, says they feel enough is enough.

They have extended their invite to various authorities including the police, the ward councillor, Springs and KwaThema Child Welfare Society’s social worker for Gugulethu/Everest and several other departments.

At this meeting issues regarding police corruption, rape, woman and child abuse, illegal immigrants, high crime rates, closing times for tavern and shebeen owners and other municipal issues.

Sheodin says he will attend the meeting to listen to all the issues raised as he feels sorry for the people being tortured by the loud music all night long.

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