There were no cheers as Minister of Police Bheki Cele poured 20 000 litres of illegal booze down the drain.
And the top cop says the remaining 50 000 litres of dop will be destroyed soon.
Cele was in Belhar, where he was joined by the top management of the police including Commissioner Khehla Sitole and provincial’s Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile.
They convened as part of the annual Safer Season Inspection Tour which started in the Western Cape on Monday.
“The alcohol had been confiscated from the shebeens which are operating illegally.
“We have no problem with those who sell legally, but they must trade responsibly, we don’t want underage drinking and they must close at the time they are supposed to close,” Cele told the Makhaza residents.
“The illegal sale of alcohol contributes to rapes and murders in our communities.
“I encourage the police to go out to all the illegal outlets and destroy the alcohol.
“While we appreciate that it is the social lubrication which people enjoy, it is also the generator of crime.”
He explained that the remaining alcohol is waiting for the court processes.
The types of booze disposed of were varieties of brandy, whiskey and beer confiscated between October 15 and December 16.
The police minister noted a particular brand of rum as he uncapped the bottle and poured it out.
Asked whether this “breaks his heart”, Cele responded: “Why should my heart (be broken)?”
Cele and his entourage then made their way to Khayelitsha to hand over resources to the Makhaza satellite police station.
Residents welcomed the 50 police officers and 10 cars.
“The members will be permanently placed in the area. We hope that those resources will help bring down the crime,” said Cele.
Ward 96 Councillor Lucky Mbiza says they have been waiting for a police station for 20 years.
“We are happy but we expect more resources and we are hopeful that we are going to get a permanent police station within a year,” he said.