Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said government needed to put their heads together to fix the ongoing problem of reckless alcohol abuse.
Mbalula, while addressing the matter in which three police officers were killed in a head-on collision with a suspected drunk driver, said laws must be reviewed in terms of alcohol access.
A TMPD vehicle collided head-on with a suspected drunk driver in the early hours of Sunday morning. The three officers in the vehicle and the driver died at the scene. A female passenger, who was travelling with the alleged drunk driver, is recovering in hospital.
‘PEOPLE ARE OUT OF CONTROL IN TERMS OF ALCOHOL‘
Joining Police Minister Bheki Cele in his sentiments on alcohol abuse, Mbalula said there is over access for alcohol and people are out of control.
Referring to the damaging effects of alcohol abuse, Mbalula said;
“You can see what alcohol is doing to our country, it’s a mess. This over access of alcohol, we drink from six to six — it’s over — it must come to an end. At some point, people must drink but know at some point, 22:00, it’s not allowed, you must go home.”
“Whether there is COVID, we must review our laws, in terms of alcohol access. It doesn’t work, it has been open-ended over the years and it doesn’t work and it’s not only about level 2, it happens all the time,” added Mbalula.
Mbalula said now that we know what alcohol can do and does to our society, we’ve got to curtail it somehow.
Mbalula said that in other countries there are laws against how much one can consume. He said on the flip side, here in South Africa, citizens are buying liquor even when it’s illegally banned, using their last pennies.
“The R350 you give them for unemployment, you give them for social security in the country, they share that money, they take that money and buy alcohol in the dungeons, underground and then it means those who sell alcohol benefit twice,” he added.
A 22:00 CURFEW IS STILL IN PLACE
Cele has sent his condolences to the families of the deceased members and at same time denounced the reckless behaviour that led to the senseless loss of life.
“The lives of these young officers were cut short by a man who chose to drink and act irresponsibly. While the alcohol ban has been lifted under Lockdown Level 2, it still remains the responsibility of those who consume alcohol to do so, without putting themselves and those around them in danger. If alcohol was consumed at home as per government’s directive, the loss of lives could have been avoided,” he said.
Cele has also reminded South Africans that a 22:00 curfew is still in place.
“While this incident is a great loss to the Metro Police department, police officers will continue in their numbers, to enforce the law and clamp down hard, especially on reckless behaviour brought on by alcohol abuse,” he added.