Increasing Number of taverns in Emalahleni is becoming a concern to authorities in Mpumalanga and this emerged during a Liquor Traders’ workshop that was held today (08 August 2017) in Emalahleni. The workshop was organised by the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison together with its stakeholders such Mpumalanga Liquor Authority, SAPS and the municipality. .
The purpose of the workshop was to familiarize traders with all processes involved in applying for a trading license, the conditions and various legislations governing liquor trading industry. Traders are also encouraged to play their part in ensuring that their employees comply with the law.
This workshop is part of the department's effort to encourage responsible trading as it has shown in many instances that irresponsible liquor trading and alcohol abuse has led to many road fatalities and the increase of criminal activities such as domestic violence and common assault.
The Emalahleni workshop is the fifth one as the department has already conducted four successful workshops in Mbombela, Tonga in Nkomazi, Middelburg and Embalenhle. In today's (08 August 2017) workshop, SAPS Major General Jabulile De Beer indicated that there are 422 licensed liquor outlets in Emalahleni Local Municipality.
She said that this is an unacceptable number of liquor outlets as it becomes difficult for them to have enough police officers deployed in those outlets. According to De Beer, most criminal activities emanate from the liquor outlets and the number of police officers is too little to police all the outlets and also to attend to community's needs in the area.
"It is in that regard that we always encourage liquor traders and the community at large to play their part in preventing and combating crime that is happening around them and their businesses. Communities must stop pointing fingers at police officers that they are not doing their work, instead; we need community members who will work with the police in the fight against crime. As police, we are not against your businesses, we know that you support your families with the money made from the business, but we condemn the attacks on police officers when they conduct their duties in the outlets," she said.
Speaking on behalf of Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Mr. Jacob Phala emphasized that the department is not against liquor trading businesses but said that government will not hesitate to close down all taverns that were not complying with the law. He added that the department will continue with the workshops until the whole province has been covered.
Meanwhile, Mr. Gerhard Smit who is a liquor trader said that they have formed an association with the aim of creating an environment that will be safe for them to operate and for their consumers.
He said that as liquor traders, they fully support the police and they will ensure that there are no criminal activities taking place within their areas of operation adding that he once reported some of his customers who were selling drugs to the police.
Smit added also that the police must not hesitate to come to them as they are always willing to assist end the scourge of crime.
Ends…
Issued by Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison
Enquiries: Joseph Mabuza
Contacts
Tel: 013 766 1579
Mobile: 082 678 1450
E-mail: emabuza@mpg.gov.za