WITH the festive season upon us, the municipality and police swooped on Nelson Mandela Bay taverns.
Four taverns were shut down in Gqeberha for non-compliance during a tavern clampdown by Metro cops, the police and the Eastern Cape Liquor Board that started on 17 November.
The operation visited taverns in Zwide, KwaZakhele, Dwesi, and New Brighton.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Safety and Security Lawrence Troon said: “The operation also focused on road safety and secondhand goods compliance. It could not be business as usual within the city as opportunistic crime was expected to increase during the festive season. We have taken a stance to improve these crime prevention operations and we are not targeting one aspect of crime prevention.
Our joint efforts make a big difference as we all specialise in different areas but with a common goal of fighting crime to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors.
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The operation issued 79 traffic fines worth R74 800, closed four taverns for failure to comply as well as four secondhand dealers for failing to operate as registered dealer shops. We are issuing a stern warning to road users, business owners and residents that we will have no mercy on anyone who breaks the law, be it stealing water or driving recklessly, or having illegal operations in their businesses. There will be consequences.”
Nelson Mandela Bay deputy district police commissioner Brigadier Ronald Koll said the collaborative efforts go a long way to bring peace and stability.
“We dominated the hotspot and divided our teams to tackle different challenges. Two arrests were made for possession of Mandrax and dagga and possession of ammunition and replica firearm. We are expecting more of these kinds of operations.
We do believe that this is how operations should be conducted, in a joint effort so we can direct our resources to make a sustainable impact,” he said.
