Alcohol ban will help combat crime - Cele
Police Minister Bheki Cele says the ban on the sale alcohol after 6 pm will help combat crime.
The Department of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) gazetted regulations on Wednesday to fight the pandemic which include a tighter grip on liquor restrictions and prohibitions on large gatherings.
Cele and Justice and Correctional Services Minister, Ronald Lamola briefed the media on Friday on the government’s measures to combat COVID-19.
Cele revealed that statistics show that a lot of crimes are committed by drunk people during the early hours on weekends.
"You must remember that alcohol or liquor has been causing a lot of crime, so there will be an impact in dealing with Coronavirus issues,” Cele says.
"It will impact positively when it comes to things like crime, especially the crime that is generated by liquor," Cele says of the after-hours alcohol ban.
Cele cited Inanda in KwaZulu-Natal, which has the highest rape rate in the country, where he said research showed many offenders had consumed alcohol in taverns before committing a crime.
"Also, we pick up a lot of dead bodies around three in the morning coming from shebeens, so if we shut down at 6 pm, it will have a positive impact,” Cele adds.
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Cele says the spotters will be members of the SAPS. "Others will be in uniform, others won't be in uniform, but there will be given the information to the units that will respond as they are called," he says. "You might see them. You might not see them."