The community are fighting a liquor licence application that they say has shown “worrying” irregularities.
The application for a liquor outlet attached to the Shoprite store complex being built in Lentegeur is already with the Western Cape Liquor Authority (WCLA) despite it allegedly never having been tabled at a sub-council.
The sub-council says it is opposed to liquor licences in residential areas and is not sure how the application slipped by them.
“Sub-Council 17 has a standing resolution that we do not support a liquor license application in a residential area,” said chair Elton Jansen. “Even though this new Shoprite is on a property zoned for commercial use, it is still surrounded by residential properties.”
Jansen added that the property is abutted by a crèche and there is also a church and school in close proximity.
“It must be noted that we have Merrydale Primary School, St Mary Magdalene Catholic Church as well as Eulalie Stott Educare in close proximity to this new proposed liquor outlet. This community does not need another liquor outlet and therefore we do not support this application. Neither myself, as the sub-council chairperson, nor the ward councillor, nor ward committee have received this notice in order to comment. The sub-council resolution stands.”
Despite this, the application reached the liquor board with the sub-council’s stamp of support.
‘Never asked for comment’
According to the application documents, which were shown to TygerBurger, there was “no response received” from the ward councillor about the application.
Gouwa Timm, the councillor for Ward 78 where the complex is being built, said she was never asked for comment.
“Why would I, as a Muslim, support an application for a liquor outlet,” she said outraged.
The application further states that there were no responses received from the City’s departments of health, emergency services or law enforcement.
The only City support on the document was from “Chad Newman” under “Town Planning”.
‘Smell a rat’
Community activist Shahiem van Nelson of Save Mitchells Plain first brought the irregularities to TygerBurger‘s attention. He said residents approached him to investigate when they saw that a liquor licence outlet was on the cards for the Shoprite complex which is being built on the corner of Merrydale Avenue and Lavender Road in Lentegeur.
Van Nelson started looking into the matter but said “it was like looking for a needle in a haystack”.
With the help of another community organisation, he eventually secured the documents supporting the application, which he shared with TygerBurger.
Van Nelson said he started “smelling a rat” when he noticed that the documents cited comments from Strandfontein Community Police Forum and Westridge Neighbourhood Watch in support of the application.
CPF puzzled
Lentegeur CPF is equally puzzled by the document.
“Comment was sought from Strandfontein CPF and a Westridge Neighbourhood Watch which falls outside of the Lentegeur policing precinct,” said Michael Jacobs, the chair of the Lentegeur CPF.
According to the police report attached to the application, by the “designated liquor officer” Sgt DE Williams, “There are no liquor-related crimes in that area.”
When TygerBurger asked the station commander for comment she said she was unavailable.
TygerBurger contacted the WCLA and Shoprite for comment but neither had replied by the time of going to press.
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