Teachers and community leaders have expressed concern over mushrooming taverns and liquor stores in close proximity to schools in parts of Port Elizabeth’s northern areas, where pupils and teachers already have to contend with crime, gang violence, drug dealing and other social ills.
Seven primary and three high schools in Korsten and Schauderville are situated among a slew of licensed liquor outlets where there are also unlicensed shebeens.
The outlets include taverns and liquor stores trading in the northern areas.
The Eastern Cape Liquor Board’s website shows that 21 licence-holders do business in an area of Schauderville and Korsten within a roughly 2km radius of the 10 schools.
The site also states the names of the outlets, the owners and the streets where the businesses operate.
But some of these outlets are much closer to schools than the 100m minimum distance which the law stipulates.
An example is a liquor outlet in Lawler Street, which is adjacent to De Vos Malan Primary School.
Liquor Board spokesperson Mgwebi Msiya said a school should be at least 100m away from a licensed outlet.
“And if [the distance] is less than 100 metres, a school must be served with a form to grant it the right to allow it or refuse the applicant’s request.
“The legislation requires the [outlet] applicant through the ward councillor to convene a community meeting informing them of his intention,” he said.
After such engagement, Msiya said, the councillor was required to submit a report to the board.
This would have to contain minutes, an attendance register and the decision taken at the meeting.
“After getting the report, a liquor inspector will go and visit the establishment and also engage with stakeholders.
“There have been instances in the past where applicants colluded with councillors.”
Msiya pointed out the shortcomings in the system.
“The challenge we have is that we only have three [liquor board] inspectors for the Nelson Mandela Bay region and Sarah Baartman [district].
“They are expected to go there often for post-inspection but this does not happen regularly.”
One frustrated high school principal, who did not want to be named, said he struggled to keep pupils from being lured into liquor outlets.“Before they come to school, some of the learners – including girls – start their day at taverns,” the principal said.“Can you imagine the challenge and the level of concentration of that pupil?“We don’t even get contacted when licences are awarded to tavern owners.”A primary school principal in the area, who also did not want to be named, said the children at the school were still young and teachers did not frequent the surrounding taverns.“However, our main concern is on the side of parents. They appear to spend grant money in taverns.“When these children reach high school age, some of them think going to a tavern is part of a coping mechanism and it develops into a vicious cycle.”Education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima urged tavern and liquor store owners to abide by the law.“As the department, we urge tavern owners to observe the rules of the liquor board.“That is the only way we can have a conducive learning and teaching environment.”Religious leader Pastor Neville Goldman, of Ebenezer International, said: “Schauderville and Korsten are not far from each other.“How do you have 21 taverns in a 2km radius?“You have 10 schools – seven primary and three high schools – and we are talking about 1,000 pupils, the majority of them are aged between seven and 16.“So how do you issue so many liquor licences?“Tavern owners must have consciences and not allow minors access to their establishments,” he said.Community activist Christian Martin deplored the mushrooming of taverns in the northern areas.“We condemn this in the strongest terms,” he said.“It contributes to moral fibre decay and works against government legislation which stipulates that you cannot have a tavern near a religious institution or school.“Such licences must be revoked,” he said.Resident Marelene Brugh, 64, questioned whether communities could raise stable families in this environment.“The government preaches safety and security but on the other hand destroys the moral fibre of society,” Brugh said“Are we ever able to raise a just society in the environment we find ourselves in?”