The destruction is the final step in the alcohol impoundment process, but is also needed to make space in the liquor storage facility for the predicted increase in alcohol confiscations this summer, said the city via a press statement. 

Between December and 15 this year, enforcement staff had already confiscated 2 339 bottles of alcohol, amounting to 1 379,84 litres. This excludes the tally for impoundments on Reconciliation Day, which is the first priority day in terms of festive season enforcement.

"Odds are the number will increase fairly significantly once the updated tallies are in. Also, with more people on leave now, the beaches and public spaces will be even busier, and the liquor storage facility will fill up too," said Cape Town's mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith.

He said the city's l"aw enforcement staff had a rough time this past weekend" with several reported incidents of riotous behaviour where officers attempted to confiscate liquor. 

"Our message to these louts is simple – you might think there is safety in numbers until you get arrested for assault and interfering with an officer executing his duties and spend the festive season behind bars.  

 When alcohol is confiscated in the city, the owner receives a R500 fine as well as a receipt outlining exactly what items were confiscated. The liquor is then booked in at the law enforcement impound facility, where the owner can reclaim their goods upon payment of the fine and a R650 impoundment release fee.

If the items are not collected after three months, the city’s policies make provision for the destruction of the alcohol.

Smith said that in other enforcement-related matters from the past week, 380 vehicles were submitted for fitness checks in the three days of Operation Exodus. 

 The annual festive season operation checks the fitness of vehicles and drivers in the long-distance transport sector. It kicked off on December 13.

Meanwhile, said Smith, vehicle checkpoints around the various public transport interchanges (PTI) turned up 12 078 offences – the bulk of these related to vehicle and driver fitness, as well as speeding.

African News Agency (ANA)