For those who didn't manage to get hold of the Tattler - below is the article by Heidi Swart concerning liquor licences and clubs' behaviour;
*OBS civic bodies fed up with club antics* *Heidi Swart* Monday at midnight: Observatory’s lower main road is serene. Couples stroll down the street holding hands, and restaurant and café doors open warmly onto the pavement, and advertising musicians and poets. It is hard to imagine that just days ago, Andrew Aminiel Palangyo, 2,3 lost his life after a fellow reveller stabbed him in the neck - police believe with a broken bottle – after the Observatory Festival of Arts. That was last Saturday at 2am, with Observatory’s night life at its peak, keeping in step with drug and alcohol consumption of partygoers. People come from far and wide to enjoy the night life here, where youth, alcohol and good times are abundant - but at a cost. Brian Amery of the Observatory Improvement District said that the violence which lead to Mr Palangyo’s murder was linked to alcohol and possibly drug abuse which took place mainly at nightclubs. He said that over the past two years 27 “fairly serious” fights have been recorded where there was a risk of death or serious injury. “Assault is up, and it links to these places.” Andrew Fife, chairman of the Observatory Business Forum, said he believed the murder was linked to gang activity and drugs. But, said Mr Amery: “Observatory does not deserve a bad reputation. It is being held to ransom by a few pubs and clubs that break the rules.” Civic bodies in Observatory are worried about a number of issues that they say are at the heart of crime in the suburb and forcing businesses and residents to leave the area: - In total, 58 places, including restaurants, clubs, pubs and liquor stores sell alcohol in Observatory. But not all are licensed. Of the 16 clubs who are involved in disturbances, more than half do not have the required business licence. - Some liquor outlets are granted temporary licences by magistrates, which should only be issued for once-off events, but are used by the clubs these to operate in the long term. - Some establishments simply ignore the terms of their restaurant, liquor or business licences. For instance, an establishment may hold a restaurant, business and a liquor licence and therefore may sell liquor while food is being served. However, they then sell only liquor and serve no food. - Certain clubs stay open into the early morning hours serving alcohol long after their legal trading and closing time. They continue to serve liquor even if a patron is completely inebriated. - Intoxicated patrons exit clubs, sometimes in large numbers, and engage in lewd behaviour, often urinating on pavements and causing noise disturbances to nearby sleeping residents as they make their way home on foot or in their vehicles. - Certain clubs are a front for blatant drug dealing. - Prostitution is a growing concern. - Certain landlords make no effort to evict club and restaurant owners who break the law. - Transgressing club owners sometimes get fined by authorities or taken to court, but magistrates often reduce the fines dramatically, or simply throw the cases out. This means that fines and court appearances are not a threat to club operators who consistently break the law. But James Cowley of the Observatory Neighbourhood Watch, said that community civic bodies will continue to take their stand: “This is predominantly a family suburb. We want to reclaim Observatory and tidy it for the next generation.” Mr Amery insists there is a clear solution: “We’ve told authorities: Observatory can be sorted it out in a month but with a concerted effort from the authorities.” But that is easier said than done. Observatory civic associations say they have had to carefully build relations and communicate their needs to authorities: “It has taken two and a half years of concerted effort to get the City to recognise their duty to respond. The community has to make a constant effort,” explained Observatory Community Police Sub-forum chairperson, Henk Stutterheim. Mr Amery added that complaining to the Western Cape Liquor Board about unlicensed liquor outlets was often fruitless. The various community associations have also spent the past year working with the community police forum to solve the pressing issues. “They’ve been very positive, and taken us farther than we were a year ago,” said Mr Amery. But, he said residents remained anxious for action to be taken soon. J.P. Smith, Mayco member for safety and security, said that although clubs were regularly raided, drugs are seldom found: “We raid all of them all the time. You don’t find much if your raid.” According to Mr. Smith the type of problems facing Observatory are better addressed at the sub-council level. Observatory ward councillor Cedric Thomas, said that the area “has been the centre of attention,” and that authorities planned to implement a new strategy for policing the Mowbray and Observatory area. He confirmed that the city had raided clubs in Observatory on numerous occasions, and that drugs had been found. But, said, Mr Thomas: “There are far too many liquor outlets. The liquor board must deal with this.” Colonel Pierre Van Der Riel of the Woodstock police station confirmed that clubs, drugs and alcohol abuse were a big problem. He said that the police have issued clubs with warnings and fines for staying open too late.He said the police have now decided that, after a third fine was issued, a report would be submitted to the liquor board requesting them to send a summons to the perpetrator. He said that he had also met with the liquor board: “They assured us that they’ll take this seriously. He said that the police will take a firm stance against clubs when the new liquor act comes into effect in February next year. The act will shorten trading hours for all establishments selling liquor. The Western Cape Liquor Board could not be reached for comment by the time of going to print. */end* -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw?hl=en.
