“We Cannot Be a Nation of Drunkards” - Masango Tells Moloto Residents

Media Release
15 July 2008

Mpumalanga Safety and Security MEC, Mr Siphosezwe Masango told the community of Moloto outside KwaMhlanga that Mpumalanga cannot be a nation of drunkards.

He told the residents of Moloto during a Safety and Security Imbizo held at the Moloto Village near KwaMhlanga on Saturday.

Masango was earlier briefed by various stakeholders that Moloto village has 15 licensed taverns and a number of unlicensed shebeens. Among others, problems identified in the area are that the licensed taverns do not adhere to the licensing conditions.

These establishments open beyond the hours of operation and this has an impact on contact crimes such as rape, assault and domestic violence as well as housebreakings.

Masango strongly felt that Moloto could be overtrading with liquor and this needs to be corrected.

There is a concern that some of the consultants perpetuate the problem because in some instances the Mpumalanga Provincial Liquor Board would issue a Licence for a restaurant where food was supposed to be sold, but the establishment would transform into a tavern.

The Liquor Board needs to closely work with police to deal with these discrepancies. “We are appealing to all those involved in the sale of alcohol to be responsible enough not sell alcohol to minors as they are destroying the future of this country,” said Masango.

Masango appealed to the community to continue working with the police to eradicate crime and commended the Moloto Police for the zero percent crime rates over the last three months in categories such as murder and attempted murder, and the low rate in crimes such as motor vehicle theft.

However, the rate of housebreakings is worrying and it was mostly attributed to houses which were left unoccupied most of the time as occupants are working in Pretoria and Johannesburg, and they only come home either weekly or monthly.

Some of these houses are further used by criminals to hide stolen goods.

In the true spirit of the Imbizo, residents were also allowed to raise their concerns which some of them were immediately responded to and others would be referred to relevant departments and units for further investigations.

Among the issues raised, were that police do not respond timeous to crimes scenes especially when a crime reported is violent in nature. It is alleged that police respond swiftly to domestic violence scenes.

Moloto police have also been accused of colluding with criminals and there is also a problem of lack of communication between the complainants and the investigating officers and this needs to be improved as it compromises the complainants as some would even miss their court dates and suspects would walk free.

For more information please contact Joseph Mabuza on 013 766 4055 or 082 678 1450

Issued by the Department of Safety and Security, Mpumalanga Provincial Government