A Worcester bottle store owner’s licence was suspended after he allegedly withheld farmworkers’ documents for unsettled debts.
|||Cape Town - A Cape Winelands bottle store owner has had his licence suspended for three months after he allegedly withheld farmworkers’ documents for unsettled debts.
During a joint raid by the Western Cape Liquor Authority and the police last month, 58 identity documents and 14 Sassa cards and bank cards, with the relevant PIN numbers, were found on the premises.
The raid followed a tip-off to the authorities.
Finance, Economic Development and Tourism MEC Alan Winde said the store, Goudini Kontantwinkel in Worcester, was also fined R10 000.
“We count on residents to join us in tackling alcohol abuse as they are the ones who have direct experience of illegal trading and are most affected by it,” said Winde.
“Upon receiving this complaint from a member of the public, the Liquor Authority brought an urgent application to suspend the licence, a punishment which fits the crime.”
Thys Giliomee, chief executive of the Liquor Authority, said the store’s liquor licence was suspended until October 31. Giliomee said a criminal case against the owner was pending and, if found guilty, he could be fined up to R500 000 or a two-year jail sentence.
Spokeswoman for Winde, Bronwynne Jooste, said all but three of the documents had been returned to the owners.
The three outstanding documents would be returned once the owners had submitted an affidavit to the police.
yolisa.tswanya@inl.co.za
Cape Argus
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