Durban — Liquor outlets were fined, and some shut down when police and the KwaZulu-Natal Liquor Authority inspected several outlets in the Empangeni area on Sunday.
Over 48 000 litres of alcohol was confiscated; two licensed premises were fined to the amount of R2 000; two illegal gambling machines and one illegal outlet were identified and shut down.
Bheki Mbanjwa, Acting CEO of the KZN Liquor Authority, said they have opted for a proactive approach in dealing with the issue of non-compliance with security commitments.
Mbanjwa said their discussions with liquor outlets would assist the province in dealing with the scourge of violence on their premises.
“It must be a general understanding that the safety of patrons should remain a priority for every liquor trader. When a life is lost, the Liquor Authority must be satisfied that all the necessary measures were in place to ensure the safety of patrons,” Mbanjwa said.
Mbanjwa said that in most cases, the licence holders failed to comply with the commitments they had signed up to with regard to security. This led to the KZNLA’s Compliance and Enforcement team investigating and submitting reports and recommendations to the Board - which resulted in licences either being suspended or revoked.
The KZN Liquor Licensing Act 06 of 2010, as amended, places great emphasis on instilling measures that address proper regulation and control of the liquor industry in terms of its economic contribution while balancing the social, economic impact and its effect on communities.
In total: 48 215 litres of alcohol; R2 000 fine for two licensed premises, two illegal gambling machines and one illegal outlet were confiscated.
Daily News