THE station commander of Port
Shepstone SAPS Brigadier Sandra Nala has warned local tavern owners who do not have liquor licenses that the SAPS will act against all persons who trade without proper documentation.
Nala said this after an unlicensed tavern known as Duma Tavern in Bhobhoyi was closed by police last Thursday after the
38-year-old owner was in possession of a fraudulent liquor license.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Zandra Wiid said that the owner was served with summons to appear in court on May 24, for selling liquor without a valid license, but he instead opted to pay an admission of guilt fee of R3 000. “Investigations into the premises began when two people were stabbed on
Saturday April 24, during an altercation near the tavern. Both people died and murder cases were opened.”
Wiid said that a 20-year-old man was later arrested for the stabbings and has appeared in court.
She said that there have been a couple of similar incidents in the past.
“The owners are fined and most of the times pay admission of guilt. We will do operations to expose illegal license holders when we receive this kind of information and we will also do sting operations at premises to verify whether licenses are valid.”
According to the KZN Liquor Authority a licence is required for any person, who is selling, manufacturing or distributing liquor.
A person trading without a licence is guilty of an offence and the South African Police
Services may take steps to close down and confiscate the assets of the business.
The liquor authority says that the license makes the holder of the license legally responsible, as far as protecting the public interest and the general public against concoctions being sold to them.
To apply and for more information on liquor licences visit the website: www.kznlqa.co.za
