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A CALL for more action to be taken against local shebeens was the topic under discussion at the recent executive committee meeting of the Grassy Park Community Police Forum (CPF), held on Saturday, 26 April.

The CPF is requesting that the police issue illegal shebeens with letters notifying them that their cases will be handed over to the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU).

In the past, the CPF, together with the Grassy Park community, made their quest to rid the area of shebeens publicly known by taking to the streets and requesting the shebeen owners to "cease or leave".

This action from the community, coupled with the frequent raids on these shebeens by the Grassy Park Police, seems to be insufficient, says Philip Bam, chairperson of the CPF.

"Shebeens are still a big problem. One needs a bit more effective action from the police," says Bam.

Bam feels that each shebeen in the area should be issued with formal notices stating that should they be found dealing again, their assets might be forfeited to the state.

Senior Superintendent Christopher Jones, station commissioner of the Grassy Park Police Station, has indicated that the action is "something that needs to be done".

"We will bring it to the attention of all shebeens that we will take them over to Asset Forfeiture," says Superintendent Jones.

However, Jones makes it clear that a definite time frame as to when these notices will be served cannot be given.

In April last year, a property notorious for its sale of drugs and alcohol was forfeited to the state. After years of drug and liquor confiscations, the Grassy Park Police brought an application for the forfeiture of the property before the AFU on the basis of criminal activity taking place on the property.

The property had been raided 87 times in the past five years.

The forfeiture of the property was the first in the Grassy Park area. Bam is hoping that this approach from the police can be implemented broadly, which could result in fewer shebeens operating in the area.

"I think that everybody who is raided should be issued with a notice," says Bam.

However, it is not as simple as it seems, explains Se?nior Superintendent Kishor Harri of the provincial police's Organised Crime Unit. He says that not every shebeen can be served with these notices, but that police will identify the problematic ones in the area and issue them with a notice.

"The letter is for illegal activity. We give the legal occupant notice. We want to inform the owner that illegal activity is taking place on their property."

Harri says that if shebeens are served with these noti?ces, they should not take it lightly.

"There are serious consequences should they ignore the stipulations.

"Should they not cease their illegal activity, the matter will be taken to the National Prosecuting Authority," says Harri.

Advocate Hermione Cronje, regional head of the AFU, says that once notices have been served and there is sufficient evidence against the property in question, the matter will be taken to court.

She explains that the evidence presented by the police, as well as the facts of the case, will determine whether or not asset forfeiture is indeed possible.

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