Shebeen business: a boon or a taboo?

TURFFONTEN – Alcohol consumers have been the only main source of income to most shebeen and tavern owners in the South for many years.

The rate of unemployment is high and starting a business is a brilliant idea, particularly in your comfort zone, your backyard.

However, there are rules and regulations that owners should adhere to if they don’t want authorities to shut down the business, which automatically leads to a loss of jobs.

Stephen Makoae, a veteran shebeen owner in Turffontein, is successfully running his business for more than 20 years in his yard. He had no problem with the law until 2006, when he moved to a new home in Gornwell Street, still in Turffontein.

His permit (liquor license for shebeens) reflected his old address and the regulators deprived him of selling alcohol at his new premises. “The address issue affected my living income as I was forced to shut down for some time while the liquor board were dragging their feet in attending to my situation. I am one of the first people to own a successful clean shebeen in the South,” he said.

Most people consume alcohol and it often leads to more bad results than good, especially in shebeens and taverns. The law allows owners to trade from 10:00 to 22:00 during the week and 10:00 to 02:00 on weekends. Some comply with the regulations provided by the Liquor Board and some do not.

Shebeen queen Portia Ndileka, also in Turffontein, De Villiers Street, does not see the need to close at 02:00 on weekends, because people are too drunk and uncontrollable at that time. She said that it is when people are violent, that it affects her business image in her community, and that will make her lose her good customers.

“I am against the law that says taverns and shebeens should close at 02:00 on weekends.” A few years back there was a tavern in Bellavista called Diana Stores in Garden Street, where violent fights were always witnessed and several people lost their lives until it was permanently shut down.

Some residents believe that alcohol should be sold on an off-consumption license, which means people should buy and consume off premises. They believe that this will definitely alleviate the number of revellers gallivanting in the street at night, which is not safe for the community.

Martin Jacobs, a South resident who quit alcohol 10 years ago, said liquor is not the problem. It helps you to relax after a long day. People should be responsible and not drink the whole night through. He says it’s better to drink at home.

“Drink responsibly, do not drink and drive, most importantly, do not drink to get drunk, but drink to relax,” he advised.