MEC Ngomane calls for responsible liquor trading

Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Pat Ngomane has once more called on the police and Mpumalanga Liquor Authority to close down liquor outlets that have not been accordingly licensed. He says the owners should also be arrested because they are breaking the law. The MEC was speaking at a Liquor Traders Workshop that was in Mbombela yesterday.
The MEC says the impact of alcohol abuse was devastating on many communities because many crimes are committed after the culprits have abused alcohol. Ngomane bemoaned that there are already too many taverns and places that sells alcohol that are licensed and some do not even comply with licensing conditions.
He explained it will be challenging to have even more people trading illegally and they should therefore be brought to book. He has encouraged liquor traders to assist government to promote responsible liquor trading.
He says liquor traders’ compliance with the law will boost government’s efforts to combat crime particularly around their establishments.
He has also complained that some of the taverns are situated near schools and churches, and therefore, the MEC says, such establishments should be prioritised for immediate closure in order to arrest challenges of alcohol abuse among teenagers and school going children.
A call was again made to owners of establishments that are licensed to comply with their trading conditions by among others not selling alcohol to under age patrons, sticking to their trading times and generally comply because failure to do may lead to closure of their businesses.
Speaking at the same event, City of Mbombela’s MMC for Public Safety, Majaheni Nyalunga concurred with the MEC that many communities were suffering effects of alcohol and its abuse was also contributing to most fatal crashes and injuries on the road.
He therefore said all stakeholders should contribute towards ending abuse of alcohol in communities. He said there are many accidents that are as a result of drunk driving. Nyalunga further said that many children have lost their parents due to deaths caused by road accidents.
SAPS Provincial Commissioner, LT General Mondli Zuma stated that alcohol is one of the major contributors in crime and accidents which affect society at large. He says police have a role to play when crime is taking place in within the liquor outlets. He was also concern with the fact that non-compliance is an issue at many taverns.
Yesterday’s workshop was attended by over 500 liquor traders from around Mbombela and its part a series of workshops that the department will conduct throughout the province in the current financial year.
It is also aimed at ensuring compliance by liquor traders with their license requirements so as to deal with socio economic impact of irresponsible liquor trading.
The Mpumalanga Executive Council previously took a decision that all liquor traders that are situated near schools and churches should be closed. It was further agreed that Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC should take a lead in this regard.
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Enquiries: Joseph Mabuza
Contacts: (013) 756 6371
Mobile: 082 678 1450
E-mail: emabuza@mpg.gov.za
Enquiries: Joseph Mabuza
Tel: 013 766 1580
Mobile: 082 678 1450
E-mail: emabuza@mpg.gov.za