The Western Cape Liquor Authority clamped down on illegal liquor outlets across Cape Town last year in hotspot-areas such as Kraaifontein, Khayelitsha and Atlantis.
Between November 2022 and November 2023, the authority issued almost R7 million in fines to these outlets, according to a statement made last week by the Western Cape Minister for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen.
Allen said a total of 169 fines province wide, and 49 were issued in Cape Town.
“It is deeply concerning to note that the majority of the non-compliance reports come from priority areas. I encourage the inspectors to maintain their level of scrutiny, as this will assist in combatting crime that might be linked to the misuse of liquor,” said Allen.
Allen said the majority of notices issued ranged from failing to comply with the conditions of their licence, to failing to comply with the Western Cape Liquor Act or a compliance notice.
Rob Bisset, chair of Tygerberg Cluster Community Police Forum (CPF) board, commented that the Kraaifontein CPF has been fighting this scourge for many years.
“We have really been putting pressure on the liquor board for a long time as far as illegal liquor outlets and shebeens in Kraaifontein are concerned due to the fact that its been getting worse by the day.
“I am glad that they have taken this stance and did what they needed to do. We just hope that the amount of liquor taken away is destroyed to not land in the wrong hands. We are pleased in the way police and law enforcement has stepped up to address this issue in Kraaifontein,” says Bisset.