Sinoville pub & grill shut down for selling booze ‘illegally’
"All liquor was confiscated on the premises and a fine of R1 500 was issued in terms of the Liquor Control Act."
On Monday, a well-known pub-and-grill establishment in the Sinoville policing precinct was closed down for selling alcohol illegally following an inspection.
“It was found that they were operating without a valid liquor licence,” police spokesperson Warrant Officer Johan van Dyk said.
“All liquor was confiscated on the premises and a fine of R1 500 was issued in terms of the Liquor Control Act,” Van Dyk said.
Acting station commander for the Sinoville police Lieutenant Colonel Alet Pratt echoed similar sentiments, stating that all on- and off-site consumption establishments should ensure that they control with the Liquor Control Act.
Meanwhile, the Gauteng Traffic Police (GTP) – who also issued fines valued at thousands of rands during the operation, warned motorists to desist from drinking and driving after they made several arrests at the weekend.
“We call upon drivers to be responsible and resist the temptation of drinking and driving on our roads, especially as we approach the Easter season period,” GTP spokesperson Sello Maremane said.
“This kind of behaviour is regrettable and will not be tolerated as it undermines our efforts to promote road safety.”
He further stated that the majority of road traffic crashes were a result of road user behaviour which included driving under the influence of alcohol.
“Anyone found drinking and driving could face up to six years in custody in a court of law.
“The consequences are dire for young people since they will acquire a criminal record denting their chances of employment especially within the public sector,” Maremane said.
He added they would continue to enforce compliance to road safety rules and regulations in a bid to save road users’ lives.
“We will close you down, take your liquor and you will be charged,” police have warned traders and shebeen owners illegally selling liquor.
“We want to warn them – we are coming for you,” Tshwane SAPS district commissioner Major General Hilda Mohajane said.
Mohajane made the remarks last week during an O Kae Molao operation in the Akasia and Pretoria North policing precincts.
As part of the successes of the multi-disciplinary operations, she said four illegal shebeens were closed down in an informal settlement, known as Nkandla, on the outskirts of Rosslyn.
“When you operate liquor outlets, you need to have a licence to do that,” Mohajane said.
Following her stern warning, she urged those who wanted to trade and had applied for licences to do so to exercise patience as they waited for the licence instead of trading illegally.
“The people must be patient when they have applied for a licence to trade liquor and have outlets. They need to have their licences before they can start operating,” she said.
Mohajane further reiterated that police would continue to pursue illegal traders and shebeen owners as they were committing a crime.
“We will be on their case because they are crime generators,” she said.
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