It is with grave concern that the advertisement for an application for a liquor licence at 6 Handel Street (ERF 16818) Dalvale, Paarl was noticed in Paarl Post.
Not a day passes where one is not confronted with horrendous reports on GBV violence against vulnerable women and children. Just as regularly, it is reported in the press that the perpetrators of such crimes will invariably plead for leniency during sentencing, due to the fact that they were either under the influence of liquor or drugs were involved. Yet we as the public are continuously subjected to new applications of this nature, further burdening our communities with this scourge ruining family life and the future of our children.
What is even more worrying is the fact that the applicant has the audacity to apply to trade from Monday to Sunday, 09:00 to 18:00. Not even large supermarket groups enjoy such concessions. Can one imagine the impact of such trading hours on the surrounding property owners, who generally are a stable community whose only wish is to live in peace and quiet where they have made their biggest investment, in a bid to obtain security for themselves, their children and grandchildren. The question that now arises is, how is Council going to react in protecting its ratepayers in opposing these irrational applications?
One must never forget the ”professional” people that are paid large amounts of money to lodge these applications and are masters of the process. They apply for maximum days and hours, while being quite prepared to “sacrifice” during negotiations and settling for “less”, while still achieving exactly what they originally set out to do. This is one of the oldest ploys in the book. The timing of this application should also send warning signals out to the authorities, as defences in scrutinising these applications are normally somewhat lower during the festive season.
Over and above that which has already been mentioned, it must be pointed out that the address in question is located directly across the street from a clinic on the one side, while on the other side it is ±150 m away from an established church across an open field. Could this perhaps mean that the applicant has no respect for a community that may well be worst affected by its presence.
On Friday 29 November, at a well-attended meeting of the Drakenstein Chamber of Commerce in Paarl, we posed the question of granting more liquor licences of this nature (in residential areas) in Drakenstein at all. The meeting voted an emphatic “no”. Bearing in mind that this stance was taken by business people (normally inclined to push for less intervention by the authorities), should surely send a strong message to Council that there is just no moral justification in entertaining this application.
We as a Chamber strongly oppose this or any similar application.
Our communities are literally drowning in legal and illegal liquor outlets and should not be subjected to any further abuse, by granting any application outside the declared business zoning.
This is the message that Council should clearly be propagating on behalf of it’s residents.
I further trust that the local Ward Councillor will also oppose this application vehemently.
Regards,
Seraj Johaar of the Drakenstein Municipality responds: Drakenstein Municipality plays an advisory role in liquor licence applications as outlined in the Liquor Act. Individuals or businesses must obtain a licence to micro-manufacture or sell liquor, adhering to specific licence conditions.The Act categorizes licences into six types, including manufacturing and sales for on- or off-premises consumption, special event sales, and temporary licences. Applications are submitted to the Liquor Board, with the municipality required to provide comments within a prescribed timeframe. These include input from ward councillors and any relevant documents or observations.
