MTHATHA – As part of build-up to the launch of Safer Festive Season Operations 2020/2021, thousands of litres of liquor was today disposed of at Mthatha POP unit.
The Eastern Cape MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Mrs Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe joined the Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga and other SAPS Senior Management to dispose of the liquor which was confiscated during the Safer Festive Season Operations 2019/2020 across the province.
Eastern Cape Provincial Head: Visible Policing, Brigadier Malibongwe Ntsabo briefed the MEC and Provincial Commissioner about today’s programme and mentioned that the liquor that will be disposed of today was confiscated across the province.
“Our Station Commanders and foot soldiers worked tirelessly during 2019/2020 Safe Festive Season Operations closing down illegal shebeens and taverns. Liquor has been proven to be the biggest contributor of crime”, he said.
Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga added that, “Today we will ensure that 1 887 052 millilitres of liquor will go down the drain”.
“Our courts have ordered that this liquor can be disposed of as all cases involved have been finalized”, she added.
MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Mrs Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe adding her words. “This is not a stance against alcohol and should not be interpreted as such. This is a stance against abuse of alcohol, its contribution to crime and accidents. We are not here to pin every societal ill on alcohol”, she said.
Police Minister Bheki Cele elaborated on the impact of liquor while releasing Crime Statistics 2 Quarter 2020/2021 on Friday, 13 November 2020.
He said, liquor contributed to hundreds of murder cases, 829 assault GBH (grievous bodily harm) cases and 747 rape cases.
It also contributed to 179 attempted murders.
“Over a thousand incidences of murder, attempted murder, rape and assault took place in or outside liquor outlets such as bars, taverns, shebeens and nightclubs. These figure make it impossible to deny the true effects of alcohol abuse,” he added. Please note that these are National figures.
Source: South African Police Service