Lungi Langa
The KwaZulu-Natal Liquor Authority has suspended the licence of Samukelisiwe Tavern in Sweetwaters in Pietermaritzburg where four people were shot and killed and eight more injured at the tavern last Saturday.
In a statement issued by the authority’s Acting CEO, Bheki Mbanjwa, the authority announced that it had decided on wednesday to suspend the tavern’s licence for at least three months after finding the owner in breach of licence conditions.
“The KZN Liquor Authority resolved to suspend the licence with immediate effect for a period of three months or until such time that a security plan is fully implemented,” said Mbanjwa.
“The premises shall remain closed from 14 July until the end of the period.”
He said the KZN Liquor Authority had found that there were security commitments made by the licence holder of the tavern that were not adhered to as per the application documents submitted.
This resulted in the breach of the licence conditions set out by the authority. It is believed that two gunmen entered the tavern and randomly shot patrons, killing four and leaving eight injured.
Mbanjwa said as a result of the shooting the authority had conducted an internal investigation in an effort to determine whether there had been any breaches of the liquor licence conditions by the owner of the tavern. Their findings have led them to the decision to suspend the tavern’s licence.
Speaking to Scrolla. Africa, the owner, Mbuyiseni Mntambo said he had not been informed by the authority about the suspension. He said as far as he was aware he had fulfilled every requirement as per the licence conditions.
Mntambo said he was waiting to hear from the authorities as it was the first time he was hearing of this.
