Four illegal shebeens were recently closed and their owners were arrested during a Germiston cluster stations operation in the Makause and Marathon informal settlements.
The owners of the illegal taverns, who are aged between 40 and 43 years, were charged with selling liquor without a licence, when they were unable to produce a liquor licence when requested to do so by officers.
Police seized a large amount of alcohol during the operation.
“The rate of alcohol abuse in our informal settlements is at an all-time high,” said Sgt Styles Maome, communications officer for the Primrose police.
“We believe that this alcohol abuse can result in murders, rape and domestic violence and, therefore, we are appealing to the community to refrain from selling liquor without a licence.”
The cluster stations plan to conduct similar operations throughout Germiston’s informal settlements.
One of the arrested owners appeared in the Germiston Magistrates Court, where his case was postponed for trial, while the remaining owners paid admission of guilt fines and were released.
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