POLICE had their hands full when they had to deal with unruly patrons in Nkomazi, Naas Block A in Mpumalanga, on Friday night, 28 April.
This was after they raided a liquor outlet which was operating beyond its prescribed operating hours.
According police spokesman Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, some of the patrons started throwing stones and bottles at the police and some allegedly fired some shots.
Mohlala said as a result, three cops sustained injuries with one officer being taken to a health facility for medical attention.
He said vehicles were not spared from damages caused by flying stones and bottles.
Despite all resistance encountered, police manage to finish the business of the night.
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The raid was part of an operation police in partnership with other law enforcement agencies including Mpumalanga Provincial Traffic, Nkomazi Local Traffic, Nkomazi Law Enforcement, Mpumalanga Economic Regulator and the Department of Community Safety Security and Liaison.
It kicked off on Friday evening, 28 April with police visiting local shops and confiscating a number of expired foodstuffs including medication from the shelves, which were ready to be sold to locals. It ended on Saturday morning, 29 April.
"With the assistance of the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator, two suspects were arrested for selling expired products and being in South Africa without proper documents," he said.
Two more suspects were fined for illegally operating gambling machines in spaza shops.
"Five liquor outlets were fined for non-compliance, one shebeen was closed down and one suspect was arrested for assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm," said Mohlala.
The provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela condemned the acts of violence displayed by the liquor outlet patrons.
"Their action was also met with greatest criticism from passersby who complained about their unruly behaviour as well as unbearable noise on daily basis from the liquor outlet," said Mohlala.
