On the first day of the countrywide COVID-19 lockdown, Estcourt police arrested and charged 26 people for contravening the Disaster Management Act.
After receiving a tip-off about people consuming alcohol inside a locked tavern at about 3.30pm yesterday (March 27), Captain Mbatha and his 11-strong team proceeded to Mshayazafe.
When they arrived at Khwezi Tavern, they found that the entrance was locked.
“Captain Mbatha phoned the owner, who was nowhere to be found, to open the gate and doors of the tavern. Police were surprised to find 20 males and 5 females inside the tavern. They were consuming alcohol,” said police spokesperson Captain Bongani Nyathi.
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The owner as well as the customers were immediately arrested and detained at Estcourt Police Station. Each person was charged with contravening the Disaster Management Act and fined R1000 each while the tavern owner was also charged with attempted murder.
“The attempted murder count was added because he allowed people to come and consume alcohol in his prohibited place,” explained Captain Nyathi.
The tavern owner will appear in the Estcourt Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Police also confiscated 47 crates of liquor.
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