Cele said law enforcement agencies were tightening their monitoring and close inspection to ensure that illegal outlets are shut down and the legal drinking spots operate within the confines of the law.

“We have been briefed. If I am not mistaken, this province has about 9,000 taverns. In that briefing, there was also the head of the liquor board. We are making a call to them, to make these places safer. We don’t want to have taverns that close at four in the morning. We don’t want taverns that are not respecting the law, and that is not compliant and we find the under 18s there, or taverns making noise when people are sleeping,” Cele spoke to journalists in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg.

“Those [taverns] that have no permits, that have no licences must shut down within 48t hours. We are also speaking to those that have licences to say they must comply. If they don’t comply, shut them down. Our analysis tells that serious crimes like murder and rape happen around these places of alcohol so our eye is clearly focused on them.”

On Friday Cele, accompanied by Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela, led the South African Police Service’s safer festive season operations.

The police leadership went on community engagements by visiting public spaces, inspect police operations and multi-disciplinary road-blocks, to assess the safety plans in place for residents and holidaymakers in the province.

Earlier this week, Gauteng police launched a massive manhunt following the murder of five patrons at a tavern in Freedom Park, Johannesburg.

Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters said the murders took place on Monday evening.  

"It is alleged that three armed suspects wearing balaclavas forced entry and stormed into Intaba Tavern, also known as Jabu's Tavern, near Parkway Drive in Freedom Park. They assaulted and robbed the 53-year-old tavern owner of an undisclosed amount of cash and his cellphone," said Peters.

"Further allegations indicate that the suspects then randomly fired shots, fatally wounding five male victims who were certified dead on the scene, while two other patrons, one male and one female, were rushed to the ital and discharged the following morning after receiving medical attention for injuries. Police officers who were patrolling the area escaped unharmed after random shots were allegedly also fired in their direction."

She said a state-owned vehicle was damaged as a result of the shooting.

African News Agency (ANA)