The DA has petitioned the Eastern Cape legislature to capacitate the Eastern Cape Liquor Board to play an effective role in controlling the abuse of liquor and its resultant socioeconomic impacts.
In a motion tabled in the legislature earlier in February, the party also recommended that the board embark on a comprehensive education drive to point out the dangers of alcohol abuse and underage drinking.
In the motion, the party said communities experienced problems as a result of the sale of liquor at licensed and unlicensed premises such as underage drinking, the tragic and senseless loss of lives referencing the Enyobeni Tavern tragedy in June 2022, the increasing number of liquor outlets and the relationship between violent crimes and alcohol abuse.
It also highlighted the “alarmingly high prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome in communities across the Eastern Cape, specifically in the northern areas of Nelson Mandela Bay, and the shortage of enforcement officers of the Eastern Cape Liquor Board.”
The motion is yet to be debated and a vote to be taken.
On Sunday, DA MPL Leander Kruger said there was a disconnect between liquor legislation and the frustrations of residents regarding irresponsible liquor-selling facilities in their communities.
“Local governments [municipalities] and the Liquor Board need to have better alignment regarding the approval of liquor licences and what actions can be taken when there are allegations of breaches of the regulations,” Kruger said.
“Issues such as noise complaints, selling of liquor to minors, unruly patrons and crimes related to alcohol — all these social ills become the municipality’s problem.
“My motion seeks to better capacitate the Liquor Board to play a more meaningful and preventive role to tackle these issues.”
In a statement, board chief executive Dr Nombuyiselo Makala said underage drinking remained one of the biggest social ills in communities.
“We urge liquor traders and the community to play a meaningful role in alleviating the scourge,” Makala said.
“I am also delighted to indicate that ever since the tragic incident of the Enyobeni tavern in 2022, we have worked tirelessly to educate our communities, including liquor traders, about the dangers of underage drinking and how it can be prevented in line with our legislation.”
On Friday, Enyobeni tavern owner Vuyokazi Ndevu and manager Siyakhangela Ndevu were fined R5,000 or 100 days in prison after they were found guilty of selling alcohol to a minor.
A total of 21 people, including 18 minors, died at the tavern in Scenery Park in June 2022.
Their sentence has caused outrage, with political parties taking issue with it.
Sanco’s provincial executive committee expressed astonishment at the meted sentence.
Sanco provincial secretary Tony Duba said: “That fateful day will forever be etched in our memories when SA witnessed a modern-day butchering of young ones who had chosen a path to imbibe inebriating liquids.
“The trust we had in the justice system of the country was such that we had anticipated a sentence that would fit the crime of selling alcohol to minors, an instance which led to the demise of a huge number.
“It is our wish as Sanco in the Eastern Cape for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to appeal against the sentence and petition the court to reconsider the sentence and ask for a harsher sentence than the one handed down by the presiding officer in this matter. “
Duba said stricter measures must be drawn up and legislated and tougher penal measures taken against offenders.
The ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) said it was dissatisfied with the sentencing.
ANCWL provincial secretary Siphokazi Mani said while respecting the legal process, they firmly believed that the sentence “falls short of serving as a meaningful deterrent.
“The ANCWL views this sentence as inadequate, failing to reflect the gravity of the tragedy and the responsibility that lies with the establishment’s owners.
“It is our considered view that the court’s failure to compel the owners to take full responsibility for the events leading to this tragedy is deeply troubling.
Social development MEC Bukiwe Fanta also expressed her disappointment.
Fanta also called on parents to play a major role in the upbringing of their children.
“Parents must ensure that they know where their children are at all times.
“We cannot emphasise it more that parents should teach their children about the dangers of alcohol.”
The Dispatch visited a handful of liquor outlets at the weekend.
At least five taverns in Scenery Park had security guards at the entrances
Owners said they made sure that what happened at Enyobeni did not happen in their establishments.
However, a handful of underage children were seen drinking on the streets.
A vendor stationed outside one of the establishments said the underage drinking did not happen every weekend.
“It is only after schools have closed. Initially, they were doing the ‘pens down’ thing in December,” she said.
“This escalated and they started doing it twice a year, in June and December.”
The vendor said pupils were now hosting pens down events every quarter.
“I always see them drink. Taverns no longer allow that inside, but they buy, I don’t know where, and drink.”
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