Buffalo City Municipality is proposing new hours for all the places selling liquor and offering alcohol for consumption. Will the new by-law reduce the drinking sprees that so frequently happen in the Eastern Cape? Photographer: Asiphe Msindwana
By Lulamela Gangathele
Buffalo City residents have raised their voices against a new liquor trading by-law proposed by the municipality.
The by-law aims to regulate the hours during which alcohol may be sold. Proposed trading hours for bottle stores and grocery store’s wine shelves where alcohol is not consumed on the premises are from Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm and on Sunday from 9am to 1pm.
For the other outlets such as taverns where alcohol is sold and consumed within the premises, the proposed hours are Monday to Thursday from 8am to 10pm, Friday to Saturday from 8am to 12 midnight and Sundays from 12noon to 10pm.
Busani Ndosi Radebe, of Ndosi’s Tavern and CJ Chocolate Tavern in Southernwood, said he is unhappy with the hours proposed for taverns: “With the new operating hours we won’t make enough money to pay our workers and we can’t just take their jobs, it would be unfair.”
Thabo Mvandaba, a worker in Emlanjeni tavern, said: “The customers want to stay all night and this means good business for the owner, regulating the hours will affect the business in a negative way.”
Another liquor store worker, Siyanda Mgebe, said this is a threat to their jobs because if the hours are to be regulated they will be working fewer hours than usual and that means a decrease in their wages. “Trading hours should rather be increased.”
Some liquor sellers are concerned about their businesses, but Nokuzola Mpengesi, who also runs a tavern, said she is now clear on the trading hours although at first she saw this as a threat to her business. “I was worried because this business is my only source of income, but everything was explained at the drafting.”
Bomkazi Zide, a citizen said: “I think this is a good idea as it may reduce the number of road accidents.”
Sivuyile Mbanga, a customer said: “This is unfair to us because many customers work throughout the week and they only get to unwind during weekends, which is when alcohol is in demand.”
Zola Tyikwe, chief inspector of the Eastern Cape Liquor Board, said the announcement of liquor by-laws is the responsibility of municipalities. “With regard to BCM’s liquor by-laws, the process of community consultations has not been finalised. In essence BCM does not have liquor trading by-laws.”
The draft shows that any person who contravenes any provision of the by-law will be liable of conviction to a penalty not exceeding R2 000 or imprisonment not exceeding three years or both the fine and imprisonment.
Residents voiced their opinions at public hearings in March. The by-law still remains a draft. – WSU-SNA
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