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Crimes hit hard Madli Grobbelaar
Beer bottles lie spread throughout Central Park in Welkom following Spring Day festivities on Saturday (01/09). Photos: Supplied
Beer bottles left scattered throughout the park and parking areas on Sunday (02/09).
Parties aggravate business owners Alcohol abuse among youngsters a great concern Madli Grobbelaar madli.grobbelaar@volksblad.com
The regular month-end parties in Central Park, Welkom, have owners of businesses in the area furious. Except for the fact that party-goers are loud and abuse alcohol, they urinate against businesses’ walls in the surrounding areas and they get aggressive. “It’s absolutely shocking how the regular month-end parties in Central Park, Stateway, get out of hand,” says Arrie Abatzoglou, owner of The Strip in Welkom. “The spring party of Saturday (01/09) was a disaster. Underaged children were so drunk that they barely could stand on their own feet.”
“One drunk youngster ended up underneath a parked vehicle and was almost driven over. Another one was stabbed.” Business owners are worried that this kind of behaviour will scare their customers away. Except for the abusive drinking and misbehaviour, regular clients complain they feel unsafe in the area. Although the spring party was being monitored by police, no law enforcement has been applied. Drinking in public is an offence under the common law and the Liquor Act of South Africa. “In South Africa the legal age for consuming alcohol is 18 years and most of the youngsters that attended the
spring party was underaged and drunk,” says Abatzoglou. It seems that the legislation for being drunk in public and the use of alcohol in public places no longer applies. Business owners are pleading with authorities to take control of these parties for the safety of the community and businesses. Capt. Stephen Thakeng, police spokesperson, says the South African Police Service takes note of the concerns raised. Lengthy discussion with several stakeholders, including the Matjhabeng municipal manager, law enforcers and security companies will take place to ensure the safety of residents and to restrict learners from these parties.
Several authorities in the Goldfields had a successful joint operation to combat the illegal manufacturing of liquor, the selling of liquor without a licence, the selling of expired goods to the community and illegal immigration. The national and Free State Firearm Liquor and Second-Hand Goods Unit (Flash), the Department of Home Affairs, the Local Record and Criminal Centre and the Department of Agriculture all joined forces from Thursday (30/08) to Saturday (01/09). Several suspects were arrested for the manufacturing of liquor without registering the business entity, selling liquor without a licence, selling expired goods to customers, illegal immigration and bribery. A large quantity of alcohol and expired goods were seized during this operation. The authorities visited businesses in Riebeeckstad where expired foods – such as chips, chicken and tinned products – were sold to customers. A liquor business was also shut down when the barman was arrested for selling liquor without a licence. A large quantity of beer was seized. The authorities also visited a farm in the Odendaalsrus district, Nuwejaarsbosch, where five foreigners – Chinese and Mozambicans – were arrested and charged under the Liquor Act for manufacturing liquor or methylated spirits without being registered. These men are aged 22 to 40 years old, and they appeared in the Odendaalsrus Magistrate’s Court on Monday (03/09). The case was postponed for bail application until today (06/09).
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