The Amazwi Villager

Written By Linky Matsie

At the end of every month at Mahlasela, Ngwa Mollo, Mariusious and Dioka taverns in the Boelang community of Acornhoek, many people sit and drink beer while others play pool and dance. Business is booming at the taverns. Although most tavern owners say they don’t sell to children, many people suspect that taverns serve minors.

Some Acornhoek parents fear that their children drink. Even teachers are worried. Mrs. Selai, a teacher at German High School, explained how she educates her students about alcoholism. “I tell the students that in life, to be someone, they have to avoid alcohol and read their books, but sometimes my guidance does not work. It is like I’m talking to air.” She added, “It is hard to teach someone whose mind is not on the class because he or she thinking about going to the taverns after school.” Temba Selowe, a primary school teacher, said, “People should avoid opening liquor businesses near the schools.” He explained, “It is hard to work with children who are always drinking because they don’t have respect. He explained, “They talk without thinking because they are used to talking with people they drink beer with.”

The legal drinking age in South Africa is 18, and the law prohibits children under that age from entering taverns. One worker at a tavern in Boelang explained how her boss had instructed them to work: “As the sign above the door says ‘no one under 18 is allowed,’ my boss has given instructions that we must not sell any alcohol to children or even allow them to enter the tavern. But it is hard with those who are not from Boelang because we sellers don’t know all the people. If we suspect that a person might be under 18, we chase that person out,” she said. “Some children are large, and it is hard to tell if a person is an adult or kid. Some go to the taverns, and the sellers don’t realize that they are too young.” She continued, ”Their parents should be the ones acting like parents, and showing their care by checking their children’s every move. It is not hard to tell if a person has been drinking or not.”

“Are parents going to watch their children or are they going to let their children do whatever they feel is right with their lives?” asked Raisibe Lebjang from Brooklyn, a mother of four teenage children. She is very concerned about the future of her children, especially the young ones. “How are they going to be when they grow up when they have started getting drunk this young? What kind of parents are they going to be? I’m a parent, but I cannot control them from going to taverns because I cannot be with them all time. You can think that your children are sleeping while they are not,” she said. “I don’t blame tavern owners or even parents because I don’t think there are children who tell their parents, ‘ I’m going to the tavern. ’ I think we as parents must work together with tavern owners to control the children, whether they are your children or not.”

According to a tavern owner, who prefers his name to remain unmentioned, “Freedom to some children means doing wrong things. They don’t know the meaning of it. They misuse their freedom.” He said he does not allow children to enter even the yard of his tavern. “Parents must help us as tavern owners. They must monitor the moves of their children so that they don’t come to the taverns, especially during the night because that is when they most often come. It is hard to notice them because it is dark, and you cannot see them when they are hiding,” he said.

Inspector Mogakane said that in Acornhoek, communities are not threatening to close taverns. “The owners are co-operating. They follow the laws which they are supposed to work under,” said Mogakane. He explained, “All the taverns built next to schools are there legally because they count the distance that taverns can be built at, especially when there are churches and schools nearby.” However, the legal distance between taverns and schools is not much. German High School is located near Thibela’s tavern. One concerned mother from Moloro village said, “During the day, when other children are learning, there are some students who hang around Thibela’s tavern. That causes me pain because I’m a parent, and I don’t like it when I see that,” she said. “And what is worse,” she added, “even the primary school in Boelang community is located near many taverns, which is not right.” A teacher of Mapalane Primary School is also very concerned about the future of Boelang children. “I think there is no future for most of the children who are living in this area because of the taverns,” he said.

The proximity of taverns to schools is an issue many communities are debating. On 14 March 2008, an article in the Cape Times, a South African news and information website, reported that in Durban, different communities are angered that the taverns are next to schools. Areas with that problem are New Lands East, Phoenix and Kwa Mashu. Residents of New Lands East have started a campaign to close down two taverns less than 400m from Hill View Secondary School and New Lands East Secondary. The article states that community organizations are appealing to authorities “for issuing liquor licenses in response to a call made by teacher unions to help make schools safe. Earlier this month, unions said Community Policing Forums (CPFs) are needed to incorporate crime prevention at schools as part of their crime-fighting initiatives. CPF representatives in Durban and surrounding areas say one way to eliminate violence at schools is to do away with taverns and shebeens, some of which are just meters away from them.”

Morris Segodi, a resident of Moloro Village, is also very concerned about the well-being of children. He feels that the future of children is being ruined because of crowded taverns. “Girls today give birth at the age of eleven because they go out with boys. They meet them at the taverns during the night, even on their way to school because there are taverns everywhere,” said Segodi. “Children of today don’t have respect, and it is because they go and drink beer with grown-ups. When they are expelled from the taverns, they go to the sheebens. I think the South African Breweries companies that make alcohol should make the same rules for the shebeens as for the taverns, not to allow children under 18 in the yard or to be sold the alcohol. Right now, the owners of the sheebens are not following that law,” he said.

Some tavern owners do respect the law, but that doesn’t mean they treat children kindly. Regular customers at Nketse Nketse tavern in Brooklyn explain how they are treated at the tavern. “I call this place church because it is where I relax and enjoy myself most of the time, especially during the weekends and holidays. I am very happy with this place because the owner here does not allow children under the age of 18 to buy or drink. I remember in December, he slapped most of the children he came across the tavern yard, showing them the sign which says NO ONE UNDER 18,” he said, picking up a bottle of Carling Black Label.

According to an article published in the Sowetan on 19 March 2008, the South African National Council for Alcoholism is also concerned. “They also fear the ‘very alarming’ situation of children drinking alcohol is getting worse.” Moreover, the CEO of the SA National Council for Alcoholism and Drug Dependence in George, Brenda Pienaar, said, “More and more children are drinking from a younger age”.

Inspector Mogakane explained, “A person caught drinking in a public place will be arrested for a night. Children are not allowed to drink, even if it is in a private place.” He added, “We are requesting tavern owners not to sell alcohol to children under the age of 18.” Mogakane explained that police go around to the taverns or shebeens to check if their business is legal, and to make sure minors are not being served. “If we find that a certain tavern is not licensed, that owner will be arrested, and the beer will be confiscated,” said Mogakane.