Sub-council 11 has rejected Jumbo Cash and Carry’s application to sell liquor although the store has been selling alcohol since November 2016.
The matter was raised in a sub-council meeting on Wednesday January 23 at the Dulcie September Civic Centre.
Chairperson of the meeting and also Ward 47 councillor, Antonio van der Rheede, said the shop was too close to schools, faith-based organisations, and other community organisations, including Blomvlei, Belmor, and Voorspoed primary schools and, Mountview, Morgenson, and Chrystal high schools. It is also near the Sultan Bahu Drug Rehabilitation Centre, Little Angel Early Childhood Development Centre, and Lofdal Church in Hanover Park.
Mr Van Der Rheede also said the sale of alcohol would not positively contribute to the already high rate of domestic violence and crime in the area. The application was rejected by various residents, schools, and community activists, including resident Adiel Davids, who said that it was close to a senior centre and rehabilitation centre.
Mr Davids said: “There is already too much violence in the area and too many children of all ages on liquor and drugs.”
Another resident, Maureen Asvoë said traffic congestion was already a challenge at the premises. “There are already too many children who suffer from foetal alcohol syndrome and too much domestic violence,” she added.
The application was further rejected by rehabilitation centres, including Mothers of Hope, the Hanover Park Society, the Newfields Village, and the Youth Impact and Sustainable Solutions non-profit organisation.
In the documents submitted to the sub-council via the store, they stated that the store’s liquor section had been operational since November 2016 and the current wholesale liquor turnover is R8 782 976 a month.
The Western Cape Liquor Authority’s assistant director of communication, education and stakeholder relations, Nwabisa Mpalala, said to legally sell liquor, one needs a liquor licence.
“We encourage illegal activity to be reported either to the SAPS Designated Liquor Officer in the area the premises is located, or to our offices.
“According to our system a Section 36 licence application was considered by the LLT and its outcome was postponement. However, due to the allegations below I will forward this matter to the relevant division, which is the compliance and enforcement division,” she said.
The Athlone News asked when the licence was applied for but received no response.
Nomsa Mazibuko, the spokesperson for Jumbo, said the store had a wholesale but not a retail liquor licence, which is why alcohol was already being sold from the store.
Phillippi police did not reply by the time this edition went to print.
