National security is not responsible for Taverns Safety- Pule Mabe

ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe on Sunday said it was not the job of the national security cluster to guard taverns.

“The national security cluster of South Africa is not to safeguard taverns. Because the security cluster of the country is not responsible for these establishments that sell alcohol in villages and townships, the expectations is that those that run those establishments have got to go an extra mile to protect their patrons,” said Mabe.

He was responding to questions from the media on whether the ANC was concerned about the high number of shooting and criminal activity plaguing the country.

Mabe said it was strange that these incidences were happening at this rate.

Mabe said these were acts of criminality that could cause a security crisis in SA.

“Maybe it’s something that needs to be looked into by the relevant security establishments, not just that, even the ones that regulate these places.

“We have got to discuss the minimum threshold for you to get a license to operate a tavern. We also need to discuss what kind of security measures are you putting in place to protect your patron.”

He urged communities to work with other communities to fight crime.