Ugu (almost) tops the alcopops
Ugu district has the second highest number of taverns near churches and schools in the province.
WHEN it comes to taverns situated next to churches, Ugu district features second highest on the list with 118 legal liquor outlets situated next to places of worship, and 126 outlets next to schools.
eThekwini Metro is in first place with 222 and 251, followed by Ugu, the uThungulu district, which includes eMpangeni and Richards Bay at 72 and 92, and uMgungundlovu, which includes Pietermaritzburg with 60 and 91.
It emerged in a report tabled at the Community Safety and Liaison Portfolio Committee meeting in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday this week, that there was a total of 673 legal liquor outlets next to places of worship and 930 such outlets next to schools in KwaZulu-Natal.
These figures were sourced by the Department of Community Safety and Liaison from the August figures made available by the KZN Liquor Authority. The Department was tasked by the Portfolio Committee to produce information on a number of taverns in KZN.
Committee chairman, Bheki Ntuli, said the province was engaging the owners of these outlets with a view to addressing this challenge.
It was said at the meeting that in many cases those owning liquor outlets would argue they set up their operations long before churches and schools were built next to them.
However, owners of these outlets have been given three years to address this situation.
The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu, has noted with serious concerns the huge number of taverns operating next to churches and schools in KwaZulu-Natal, warning that this could have a negative social impact on communities.
In terms of the law, liquor outlets including bottle stores and taverns should be 500 metres away from places of worship and learning institutions.
These exclude illegal liquor outlets.
Mr Mchunu said this was a major concern and something needed to be done to address this situation quickly.
“The negative impact of alcohol on the social fibre is obvious for all to see. These outlets contribute to criminality. It is even worse to find these outlets next to schools and churches,” said Mr Mchunu.
