Cape illegal tavern to close down

This emerged from a statement the city released on Tuesday, 26 May 2009, boasting that it had "successfully prosecuted" the tavern owners, who were running the business from their home in Moorhen Crescent, Blue Downs.

The owners, a couple, were however given only a suspended sentence.

Chairman of the city's liquor policy task team Taki Amira said the community had complained since November 2006 about loud music throughout the night, anti-social behaviour, broken bottles in the street and patrons blocking their driveways.

He said though the couple had a liquor licence, the premises were zoned as residential.

City officials and the SA Police Service inspected the premises in February 2007 and the couple were warned to shut down within 30 days.

Fourteen months later, in May last year, city officials and police again visited the tavern, and found the business flourishing, with more than a hundred people on the premises.

The couple were accordingly summonsed to appear in the Blue Downs Magistrate's Court in November 2008.

They appeared, but took advantage of several postponements to continue their illegal trading until last Friday, when they were found guilty.

They were sentenced to a fine of R10,000 each (or 12 months), all suspended for five years on condition they do not conduct any business at the Moorhen Crescent home without the erf being rezoned for business purposes.

Source: Sapa

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