By 
Taverns across Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM) have come under the spotlight and the metro will tighten its monitoring of liquor businesses, especially those close to schools and places of worship.
The MMC for Public Safety and Transport Cllr Sibongile Tsoleli recently met with the Free State Gambling and Liquor Authority (FSGLA) at the municipality’s headquarters at the Bram Fischer Building in Bloemfontein, where she raised concern regarding the mushrooming taverns within the City and whether these outlets have licenses.
During the deliberations, Tsoleli inquired on the number of licenses issued by FSGLA, according to the General Manager of FSGLA Ms Sharon Mohale, some of the outlets do have licenses and they are situated close to schools and places of worship because community members did not object to the issuance of the licenses.
“A period of 21 days is given to the community to object, and when there are no objections then a license will be issued,” said Mohale.
MMC Sibongile Tsoleli has expressed intentions to tighten regulations in the sector to ensure compliance; she said the municipality should have a list of all the establishments operating within its jurisdiction.
“Such a list will allow us to know which outlets have licenses and which ones are operating with expired licenses. This will allow us to monitor compliances in this space and ensure that we take ward Councillors on board, so that they know what is being discussed here and how the problem will be tackled,” said MMC Cllr Tsoleli.
Mangaung Metro together with FSGLA will work hand in glove in monitoring the sector, though small businesses are essential to local economy and job creation, compliance with sector regulations is imperative, more so as the municipality has positioned itself as bankable City to investors, a City that is stable with many lucrative investment opportunities, it essential for the City to rid itself off of any lawlessness.
