20 Aug 2013

Some Kanye residents have complained about liquor outlets that do not adhere to trading hours and whose patrons drink alcoholic beverages in restricted areas.

Addressing Kanye Administrative Authority sub-council on Monday, the chairperson, Mr Patrick Ralotsia, said some residents in Kanye were concerned and made their complaints known to the council. He said some liquor outlets had the tendency to open before stipulated times and past the closing times of operation.

Mr Ralotsia said most traditional beer traders operated from residential plots although they were required to operate from commercial plots. He said some of the working class applied for vendors and hawkers licences under false pretences and gave such licenses to others to use, something which he said contravened the bye-laws.

“This is not acceptable councilors, and I call upon all of you to inform communities to divorce themselves from such practices,” he said. However, Mr Ralotsia said 2 093 trading licenses had been issued by the office since 2011, adding that street vendors certificates were the highest with 1 005.

He said since Traditional Beer Regulations of 2011 were implemented in July 2012, his office had been receiving more applications for liquor depots. He said out of 148 liquor licence applications received, 44 liquor depot applications were processed and approved by the Liquor Control Authority and licenses had been issued.

He said his office continuously educated the community on these regulations during kgotla meetings and service centre days. He also said the Kanye Administrative Authority was part of the joint inspection team that carried out inspections in business premises twice a month.

The inspect team comprised a commercial affairs officer, bye-law enforcement officer, labour officer and a representative of the Botswana Unified Revenue Service. He underscored that the operation of the inspection team was important to ensure compliance with the law. ENDS