Sheriff and red ants shut down Yeoville shebeen
The Sheriff of the Court shut down a shebeen in Yeoville on November 4.
The shebeen is situated in Yeo Street. The EXPRESS recently reported about how the area of Yeoville is over-traded.
There is currently an appeal regarding another liquor outlet, which was to be opened in the neighbouring area of Observatory.
The appeal was recently postponed until further notice. Mr Maurice Smithers, the executive director of the Yeoville Bellevue Community Development Trust, welcomed the shut down. “The recent court order against the shebeen is long overdue. It took seven years to get the court order. And this is not the only time action has been taken against them,” said Mr Smithers.
He said the shebeen was raided by the SAPS more than once and liquor was confiscated. However, they managed to get a court ruling ordering the SAPS to return the liquor.
“This particular case highlights the problem with the new Shebeen License Regulations of 2013. In terms of those regulations, anyone with a shebeen permit can apply for a shebeen licence. However, there is no provision for the public, SAPS or municipality to object,” said Mr Smithers. There is also no obligation for an applicant to advertise his or her application.
“This means a shebeen that has been operating in an anti-social manner while using a shebeen permit can now apply for a shebeen licence and nobody can object based on their past experience with that particular shebeen,” said Mr Smithers. In a letter addressed to Mr Smithers, a resident explained his frustrations.
“I am writing to you to voice my frustration with this establishment, for all my efforts have yielded no positive results. In essence, I am approaching you with the hope that something can be done to bring back some normality to the area,” said the resident.
“The issue of Yeoville Bellevue having too many liquor outlets has not only been discussed in Community Police Forum meetings, but is a regular topic on the agendas of the SAPS and the Yeoville Bellevue Residents Association (YBRA) and many other structures in the area,” said Mr Smithers.
The EXPRESS requested comment from Yeoville SAPS spokesperson, Constable Thabo Malatji who was not available for comment prior to going to print.
