R5k fine for Enyobeni tavern owners ‘too lenient’
The Eastern Cape Liquor Board and Azanian People's Organisation have described the sentence handed down to the owners of the Enyobeni tavern as ‘too lenient.”
Enyobeni tavern owners Siyakangela and Vuyokazi Ndevu have each been slapped with a fine of R5000 or face spending up to 100 days in prison.
They were found guilty on one count of selling liquor and conniving with employees to sell liquor to underage persons.
The Eastern Cape Liquor Board, which laid the charges, called for a harsh sentence.
But, in his sentencing judgment today, magistrate Kevin Von Bratt stressed the need to separate the deaths of the 21 young people at the tavern and the charges brought against the Ndevus under the liquor act.
Liquor board spokesperson Mgwebi Msiya said they accept the sentence.
“While the Eastern Cape Liquor Board would have hoped for a tougher sentence to be handed over to the owners of the Enyobeni Tavern, we do, however, accept the sentence as it is in line with the provisions of the EC Liquor Act.
“The fine of R5000 or serving a term for 100 days in prison does look lenient to many of us. However, we need to realise that the magistrate has meted the sentence in line with the legislation.
“We also do hope that this sentence will send a signal to other liquor traders to refrain from the tendency of serving alcohol to underage persons. We now are looking forward to the commencement of the inquest, which will drill deeper into the causes of the deaths of 21 young people inside the Enyobeni tavern.”
Azapo spokesperson Jabu Rakwena said stricter laws regulating the selling, buying and consumption of alcohol need to be implemented.
“Azapo notes with grave concerns the sentence meted out to the couple, which does not seem to drive a strong message. As a society, we have a major role to play in protecting our children and shielding them from the harshness of substance abuse.
“Azapo is calling for a serious dialogue on strict control measures in the advertisement of alcohol, the age limit for the sale of alcohol, the proliferation of taverns and liquor outlets in poor communities, the hours of trade of these outlets, the absence of centres of entertainment for young people, the culture of public drinking under the guise of ‘after tears’, ‘pens down’ and ‘chilling’.”
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