October 21, 2005
By Buhle Makabane
POLICEWOMEN will be out in force this evening, manning roadblocks and visiting taverns in Moroka, Soweto, as part of Joburg's City Safety Strategy.
The strategy was set up to improve the quality of life of the city's residents. Police will be on the lookout for drunken drivers at the roadblocks, which will be up for six hours each. The tavern visits will focus on educating patrons about the effects of alcohol abuse on families.
"A highlight of the operation is that we are doing it as women; we are not asking males to help us," said Jabu Dlamini, the City Safety Strategy's geographic focus area co-ordinator.
The campaign involves Johannesburg's metro police, the environmental health department, liquor licence unit, emergency management services, building control department and the South African Police Service. The mayoral committee member for public safety, Councillor Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, will be part of the team.
"We want to highlight women's issues. We will also be sharing information on alcohol abuse and its effects with tavern patrons and we will enforce applicable liquor regulations and by-laws," Dlamini said.
Pubs and taverns will be checked for compliance with liquor, building, health and fire regulations. Tavern owners who do not comply with regulations will be fined; first time offenders will be given warnings regarding the contraventions.
Eskom electricians will check electricity connections to make sure they are legal, health inspectors will check the kitchens, bathrooms and designated smoking areas, and emergency services personnel will check fire safety standards.
"Street patrols and roadblocks will help to bear down on those operating under the influence of alcohol," Dlamini added. "Statistics have indicated that contact crimes like rape and assault are on the increase and we hope that males will see the serious steps we are taking."
The police will also be searching people for illegal weapons. Roadblocks will start at 10pm, running until 4am.
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