Zuko Komisa

Enyobeni Report: SAHRC finds that there was inadequate enforcement of liquor regulations.
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) investigative report has identified inadequate law enforcement as a contributing factor to the Enyobeni tavern tragedy.
This includes inadequate measures to restrict the sale of alcohol to minors and to regulate liquor shops.
Point of View spoke to Dr Eileen Carter from the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) about some of the the key steps to be taken moving forward.
Listen to the full conversation here:
“One inspector for every 470 liquor outlet”
“We made almost 20 recommendations, the first one being the issuing of uncertifiable licences, what we found was that there was a gross incapacity in the Eastern Cape liquor board. So much so that there was only one inspector for every 470 liquor outlet, we had to say you can not issue any further liquor licences if you can’t regulate or oversee the enforcement of regulations which is one of the recommendations we made.
Dr Eileen Carter
On Thursday, the report regarding the twenty-one teenage partygoers who died in 2022 at the bar in East London was made public.
The Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) and the police were deemed by the commission to be not doing a sufficient job of enforcing alcohol laws. Additionally, the Buffalo City metropolitan municipality (BCMM) did not exercise adequate oversight.
In respect of its findings, the Commission’s investigation highlighted systemic failures across multiple sectors, including:
- Inadequate enforcement of liquor regulations by the ECLB and SAPS.
- Insufficient oversight and capacity within BCMM to monitor compliance with zoning
and building regulations. - Delayed and opaque processes within the Department of Health regarding
investigation findings and inquest proceedings. - Neglect by national departments in prioritizing crucial legislative measures aimed
at curbing alcohol abuse.
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