Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has revealed that 20 liquor outlets have been shut down and hundreds of establishments flagged for non-compliance following 7,322 inspections as the province intensifies its crackdown on alcohol-related violence linked to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
Addressing Gauteng’s response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s directives on Sunday, November 1, Lesufi said authorities had issued 459 non-compliance notices and referred 566 liquor outlets to the Liquor Inspectorate for further inspections.
A total of 41 joint enforcement operations have also been conducted across the province.
“Enforcement operations will continue to target unlicensed liquor outlets, repeat offenders and illegal trading beyond permitted hours as part of broader efforts to address alcohol-related violence,” Lesufi said.
The crackdown forms part of Gauteng’s 90-day intervention programme following Ramaphosa’s September 29 address, during which he called for coordinated action to address alcohol-related violence and strengthen the protection of women and children.
Hundreds of liquor outlets face further inspections
Lesufi said three of the eight directives relating to liquor enforcement had been completed, while the remaining five were under implementation.
The provincial government has also submitted strategic inputs on the proposed Liquor Bill as part of efforts to strengthen liquor regulation.
Specialised training for wardens is expected to begin in early November.
The premier said coordinated weekly by-law enforcement operations had begun across municipalities on October 1.
Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni target dangerous public spaces
Lesufi said municipalities were also making progress in identifying unsafe public spaces that could expose women and children to violence.
In Johannesburg, authorities have mapped major risk zones and are preparing 10 previously hijacked or illegally occupied buildings for public reuse.
Tshwane has cleared overgrown vegetation surrounding high-risk public transport stations, while Ekurhuleni has inspected all local taxi ranks and identified faulty CCTV systems requiring repairs.
Municipalities across the West Rand have also catalogued dangerous structures and neglected public spaces.
Lesufi said safety audits were between 60% and 80% complete across most municipalities.
Urgent hazards identified through the audits will be repaired or incorporated into funded intervention plans within 90 days.
Lesufi vows continued action against GBV
Despite progress in liquor enforcement and municipal safety interventions, Lesufi acknowledged that significant work remained.
Of the province’s 67 GBVF directives, 21 have been completed, 38 are underway and eight have not yet started.
The premier said weekly monitoring would continue to ensure government departments and municipalities were held accountable.
“Moving forward, we remain dedicated to transparent reporting, swiftly resolving obstacles, and maintaining seamless coordination between provincial and national leadership,” Lesufi said.
He stressed that government action alone would not be sufficient to address the crisis.
“The fight against GBVF requires sustained government action, effective law enforcement and active participation from communities and all sectors of society.”
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Wendy Dondolo
iol.co.za
