Pic: Siyabonga Sesant
'Selling alcohol to a minor is a crime'.
That was one of the messages on placards brandished by dozens of pupils from various schools across Motherwell in Gqeberha on Wednesday morning.
They braved the cold and wet weather to partake in a protest march against "rampant" underage drinking and liquor outlets selling alcohol to persons under the age of 18.
"It is a huge problem," said 17-year-old Amahle Cakuma from Vulumzi Senior Secondary School.
"Every Saturday we see children as young as 13-years-old drinking alcohol in taverns. It is a huge problem and we want the Motherwell police to come out and patrol over weekends. I don't think children would be getting drunk if they know there are police around."
The march was triggered by the mysterious death of 21 young people at the Enyobeni tavern in East London in the early hours of June 26.
The youngest victim was just 13-years-old.
The march was supported by the clergy. "I just want to say to young people they must abstain from alcohol and focus on their education for our country to prosper," said Reverend Siyabonga Mazaleni of Methodist Church of Southern Africa
Eastern Cape Liquor Board spokesperson Mgwebi Msiya said the tragedy was a "wake-up call".
"It basically unravelled the challenge of underage drinking of our country, not only in the Eastern Cape, but around the country," he said.
He admitted there were a shortage of liquor inspectors.
"Yes, we have a limitation in terms of the capacity. But, part of what we do is to conduct regular inspections, visiting these liquor outlets [in collaboration] with police. But, also more importantly, we are saying to members of the community they must come forward and work with us and report liquor outlets not adhering to the rule of law."
A petition was handed to the Head of Visible Policing at Kamvelihle SAPS in Motherwell, Captain Raymond Ellie, who praised the large group for taking a stand against underage drinking.
Among a host of grievances, the petition called for "liquor traders who sell alcohol to the underage must immediately be arrested".
"We urge all of our peers to refrain from going to taverns or consuming alcohol and must focus on their studies," the petition further read.
