Manzini Council ready to take action against noisy liquor outlets
MBABANE – Ready to take action. The Municipal Council of Manzini has implored all Manzini residents not to be afraid of reporting noisy liquor outlets. This follows concerns raised by Manzini North residents about the inconvenience they are allegedly subjected to as a result of noisy bottle stores that are separated by only 150 metres.
The residents took it upon themselves to raise the concerns to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Appolo Maphalala during his recent tour of the city.
The Eswatini News reported last weekend that the residents from Manzini North were subjected to noisy and disorderly conduct from imbibers who loiter around the bottle stores which are situated near schools hence, accused of disturbing lessons.
In response to the complaints, Municipal Council of Manzini, Information and Communications Officer Mathokoza Thwala said as a local authority, they strongly encouraged residents to continue reporting noisy liquor establishments or any other activities causing noise pollution to the municipality’s 24-hour call centre at .
He said by reporting such incidents, residents played a vital role in helping the municipality maintain a peaceful and harmonious environment for all residents.
He said it was important to clarify from the outset that the municipality was not responsible for granting or revoking liquor licences in the city.
He explained that granting of liquor licences fell under an office within the national government structures being the Liquor Licensing Board.
“It is, however, true that the municipality plays a supportive role to the Liquor Licensing Board through monitoring in as far as noise pollution, structural and hygiene conditions of the premises are concerned,” he said. Thwala added that it was also prudent to add that the Liquor Licensing Board was one of the municipality’s key stakeholders and engagements between the two entities do take place.
He said as a result, the municipality made recommendations to the Liquor Licensing Board pertaining granting or renewal of liquor licences, based on compliance with the city’s zoning requirements as well as the habitability of the proposed establishment.
“In other words, if the liquor establishment does not comply with city regulations, a recommendation for non-issuance or renewal of the liquor license is made to the Liquor Licensing Board,” he said.
Adding, Thwala encouraged residents to also stand up and make objections to the renewal of liquor licences for noisy liquor establishments as well as those that are non-compliant to the regulations. Applications for issuance of or renewal of liquor licences are published in the national newspapers, as asserted by Thwala.
On the issue of noise pollution, Thwala said it was important to note that the municipality took this matter seriously and conducted regular inspections to address it.
ISSUES
“We also have a 24-hour call centre where residents report such issues to the municipality,” he said.
He further mentioned that in the event that any establishment was found to be in violation of noise regulations, appropriate action was taken, including fining of offenders. He said repeat offenders were documented and recommendations made against renewal of their trading licences to the authority responsible for issuance and renewal thereof.
Additionally, Thwala said it was crucial to emphasise that liquor establishments were aware that under-age children were not permitted on their premises, pointing out that, ‘school-going children not expected to be allowed to buy alcoholic beverages from these establishments.’
He said the municipality also urged residents not to turn a blind eye but report any instances where school children were allowed access to liquor establishments to the municipality or the police so that appropriate action could be taken against the
offending liquor establishment.
“It is important to mention that the municipality facilitates workshops on a yearly basis to educate liquor establishments about the do’s and don’ts of responsible operation,´ he said.
Thwala said the workshops served as an oppor tunity to sensitise liquor establishment operators about their responsibilities and the importance of adhering to regulations.
COMMITMENT
“:e reiterate the Municipality’s commitment to ensuring a safe and pleasant living environ ment for all citizens of our city,´ he said.
The Eswatini News reported that the two schools mostly affected by the noise were St Paul’s and Hillside High Schools, which are both situated not very far from the noisy area. Manzini North MP Sifiso Mashayinkonjane Nhlengetfwa acknowledged that the issue of the noisy liquor outlets was raised when the minister toured the city.
He said this was a serious concern because the noise disturbed learning at some of the nearby schools. He added that the concern from teach ers was that pupils spent a lot of time loitering around the liquor outlets during school hours while engaging in bad social habits.
He said they were hopeful that the city council would address this issue going forward because the noise was just way too much and a great inconvenience for the residents. He said this was not something to be condoned and it was good that even the minister was given first hand information on the issue so that the city council could be put under pressure to act quickly.