THE Gauteng Department of Finance & Economic Development says the current laws were enough to deal with crimes affecting liquor outlets where a scourge of tavern killings continues to be a concern.
On Thursday last week, the Gauteng Liquor Traders Association (GLTA), representing thousands of taverns and hospitality outlets in the province, issued a statement asking for the Gauteng government and law enforcement agencies to work with communities, tavern owners, liquor distributors and manufacturers, civil society and faith-based organisations - to develop an urgent action plan to halt the escalation in crime targeting taverns and townships.
This call came after the arrest of four suspects for the murder of eight people in a tavern in Kanana, outside Orkney in North West province.
According to the statement released by the association, the suspects injured an additional 13 people in the attack which took place in the early hours of July 27.
“The Association has registered its outrage and deep sadness of the escalating and ongoing tavern shootings and senseless killings of patrons across the country,” read the GLTA statement.
“In the past 24 months, we have seen taverns in Johannesburg (Soweto), Orlando (Nomzamo), Katlehong, Mamelodi, Soshanguve, and Daveyton being targeted by criminals who operate with impunity and a callous disregard for people’s lives and livelihoods. Their victims aren’t faceless, but somebody’s father, mother, grandmother or son and daughter,” says Jongikhaya Kraai, deputy spokesperson for GLTA.
He added, “As GLTA, we are standing in solidarity with all tavern owners - not only in Gauteng but across the country – and saying enough is enough. The attacks on township businesses, and taverns in particular, should be a matter of serious concern.
“They are becoming more frequent and more violent in nature, and this has a severely debilitating impact on business and community safety. The more these criminals are left undeterred, the more this type of crime will grow and spread to other sectors in our townships, and other parts of our provinces and country,” said Kraai.
GLTA is urging the Government, law enforcement agencies, community policing forums, community safety departments, and liquor licensing authorities to act with speed and determination to keep communities safe, and calling on tavern owners and communities to work with the authorities to arrest the scourge. We cannot afford another tavern shooting.
In response, the department’s spokesperson Castro Ngobese told the Sunday Independent that the Gauteng Liquor Board (GLB) which falls under the department was empowered to enforce and ensure compliance with the law at all licensed outlets.
“Furthermore, the GLB is a member of the PROVJOINTS, which is convened by the SAPS, and participates in the provincial law enforcement programmes, including Operation Shanela, Operation Buya Mthetho, Operation Nightlife, which targets the high crime hotspots, in Gauteng.”
Ngobese asserted that the department believed that the current laws are adequate to deal with crimes affecting liquor outlets, but added that the government needed to heighten programmes aimed at promoting awareness applicable within the law and prioritise the safety of liquor traders and their patrons.
“The law prohibits the supply and consumption of liquor by minors. The GLB has a WhatsApp line for reporting non-adherence to the law and trained inspectors who conduct regular site inspections to ensure compliance with the license conditions.
“On the other hand, the GLB is empowered to conduct hearings and grant sanctions, amend licence conditions, fines, suspend or revoke licenses where a licensed outlet holder has contravened the law, including the sale and supply of liquor to minors. Finally, the GLB is empowered to issue a fine not exceeding R200 000,” said Ngobese.
National Liquor Traders convenor Lucky Ntimane said that the GLTA should be the one responding to the call for intervention.
In ensuring the safety of customers, the giant South African Breweries said that through its Responsible Trading Programme, independent audits are conducted in all taverns against responsible trading practices, including safety-related ones.
“We reward those who are compliant and do not invest further in non-compliant ones. This approach has allowed us to invest in a solar programme that benefits not only 500 taverns across South Africa but also their surrounding communities,” said the SAB Media Relations Manager Kanyisa Ndyondya.
She added that the programme ensures sufficient lighting, including CCTV, panic buttons, and street lights, for the outlets - making a positive impact on the community.
thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za