Naziziphiwo Buso
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipal officials and law enforcement agencies embarked on a tavern blitz on Thursday as a build-up to the festive season.
The group was comprised of officials from the Eastern Cape Liquor Board, Metro Police, SAPS, Traffic Officials, Bay Security Officers, and representatives from 18 police stations around the metro.
They visited six taverns in Zwide, New Brighton, and Seyisi, but raids could only be carried out at four establishments after two Kwadwesi taverns were closed.
At Oom Cola’s Tavern in Zwide, the manager, Buntu Gqalane, was slapped with a fine of R350 for contravening the National Problem Building Act for placing metal barricades to demarcate the area on the pavement, which is municipal property.
Gqalane said he did not know that he had broken the law as he had only been the manager of the business for three months.
“I was not aware that it was illegal to barricade the premises. I am barricading my property to keep my patrons safe from crime and because others buy liquor elsewhere and come to our premises to make trouble,” he said.
Two Bay taverns, Mabanana’s, Seyisi and One Way’s Tavern in Zwide were temporarily closed after it was found that the liquor was being sold by someone other than the owner as stipulated by the Liquor License Act.
At One Way’s Tavern and at Kwa50’s Tavern in Seyisi the water meters were found to have been tampered with.
Nelson Mandela Bay District Visible Policing Commander, Brigadier Ronald Koll told Algoa FM News that these operations would continue and would include law enforcement, tracing of criminal suspects, and raiding drug dens and properties linked to crime.
Koll said the event was not isolated and that these operations would continue until the end of January 2023.
He said for the festive season they have targeted hotspots such as tourist attractions.
"We want to flood those areas and we want people to feel safe and free to go where they want to."
