ATM in bar takes govt grant cards

Government officials were left fuming by a sticker at a dark unlit bar “inviting” pensioners to spend their social grants there.

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Durban - Government officials conducting raids at liquor outlets in Durban on Wednesday were left fuming by a sticker at one of the outlets “inviting” pensioners to spend their social grants on liquor and gambling.

“This ATM accepts Sassa card,” said a sticker emblazoned with a Sassa (South African Social Security Agency) card image above an ATM in a dark, unlit bar in the Point Area, Durban.

Representatives of the Social Development Department, the Department of Trade and Industry’s Liquor Authority and the police stumbled on the sticker while conducting raids.

The raids are part of their campaign launched in Albert Park last year to encourage compliance with the liquor licensing laws and to fight against substance abuse.

They visited at least five liquor outlets in close proximity to one another, something the officials noted.

“My concern is that this (invitation) should not be here. The government gives a social grant so that people could maintain themselves and their families.

“If people are withdrawing money in place likes this, they might not maintain themselves,” said one official.

“This is something that the Department of Social Development will need to investigate,” he said.

Faith Namathe, the social work policy manager from Social Development, said: “I saw that (sticker). My personal opinion is that it’s should not be there, and it is something that we will have to take up with the department to find out how legal it is.”

Namathe said alcohol was destroying lives and causing disruptions in families.

“It also affects productivity at work,” she said. “I cannot quantify the economic impact, but it’s huge. It affects the government because people who are addicted have to be taken to hospital and we do not charge for that.”

Khabonina Maxatshwa, the director of the national Liquor Authority, said in terms of compliance with the law, things had improved since their first visit.

“We visited the Albert park area and 12 of the 13 businesses we visited had complied with the law.”

Maxatshwa said although liquor had a downside, “as DTI we try to focus more on compliance and increase in trade because our main role is to encourage trade” .

thami.magubane@inl.co.za

The Mercury