Dean Ramjoomia, founder and director of Nehemiah Call Initiative
The Western Cape Liquor Authority’s intention to grant new licenses to businesses refers.
I am rather disgusted at you continuing to issue liquor licenses to potential businesses while you are unable to adequately regulate and control those to whom you issue these licenses.
Your failure to publicly, adequately and effectively communicate with us the public - giving as sufficient and reasonable opportunity to object and challenge - directly results in undermining already socially unstable communities and democratic values.
For years you have been issuing liquor licences to potential businesses in Mitchell's Plain ignoring their proximity, demarcation, location of such properties to schools, early childhood development centres and faith based institutions.
Such examples can be found in Beacon Valley and elsewhere in Mitchell’s Plain.
And once again you perpetuate your disrespect for our communities non-profits and faith-based organisations working to heal and rebuild our community - knowing that alcohol is largely one of the single biggest contributing factors to both domestic violence and gender based violence.
I am calling upon you hereby to revoke your plan and intentions to issue new liquor licenses in our communities.
And that you with your partner liquor distributors subject yourself to public scrutiny.
Herein I acknowledge the Muslim community and others in objecting to your plans in our community.
I want to make it very clear that my objection in principle is not limited to this but as you read deals with specifics around your institution's issuing of licences and disregard for other stakeholders in our community.
The Western Cape Liquor Authority (WCLA) believes that enabling safe and cohesive communities requires effective regulation of liquor towards the reduction of alcohol-related harms.
Consequently, the compliance and enforcement capacity of the WCLA was recently increased to enhance our regulation of licensed liquor outlets.
Communities are central to these efforts to promote safety and wellbeing, through participation in licence application processes as well as the continued monitoring of licence holders.
All liquor licence applications are advertised in local community newspapers for interested parties to comment on the application (for/against).
We circulate them to stakeholders such as civic organisations and municipalities for dissemination to relevant networks.
The SAPS designated liquor officers also communicate these applications to community structures and organisations in the area of the application.
On a regular basis the WCLA receives complaints from members of the public about existing licensed premises, which we then investigate.
There are multiple channels for submitting a complaint and we encourage community members to utilise these channels to report non-compliance and illegal liquor sales.
For more information call the WCLA on 021 204 9805 or email liquor.enquiries@wcla.gov.za or visit www.wcla.gov.za