Taverns must come to the party
Tavern owners from King William’s Town and surrounding areas received a stern warning from police and Crime Police Forum (CPF) members to comply with the regulations and conditions of their licence agreements or face the music, during a meeting held at the station commissioner’s office on Monday evening.
King visible police commander Lieutenant-Colonel Khumbulani Bhele said the purpose of the meeting was to address the non-compliance and other challenges emanating from liquor outlets within the communities.
“We have decided to invite you for this meeting because of crime due to the non-compliance of conditions set to taverns and of reported serious crimes, such as murders, robberies and rape.”
Bhele said during operations they sometimes found drugs inside the taverns which proved there was no access control.
“Beside drugs being sold, there are also patrons with dangerous weapons, liquor being sold to very drunk people and most of the taverns are in breach with their operation times,” Bhele explained.
“We don’t want to close your business because we are aware that this is a living to care for your families, but we will have no other option if you are breaking the law.”
Community policing officer Zintle Ndikolo said she had invited all 45 tavern owners for the meeting, but only 13 attended.
Station commissioner Colonel Nomvuyo Mrwebi added that management saw that crime had escalated, with most of it coming from taverns due to non-compliance.
“We all need to be law-abiding citizens and if we discovered that you are not complying, then we will prosecute,” she said.
King CPF secretary and Sweetwaters resident Thotyelwa “Nyoki” Mfazwe said their community was shocked by the recent murder at one of the taverns in their area.
“I think it could directly be blamed due to the non-compliance of the conditions by tavern owners.”