Officials of the Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) launched the Anti Pens down Parties Campaign, to raise awareness on the dangers of the repugnant Pens down Parties Culture, last week.
The launch was held at Mdantsane Indoor Sports Centre in East London, last week.
According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Eastern Cape Liquor Board, Dr Nombuyiselo Makala, the Eastern Cape is still recovering from the devastating Enyobeni tavern incident, that resulted in the demise of 21 young people, which was a direct consequence of the Pens down Parties.
She said that as the officials from the ECLB, they were worried about the high number of children who are under 18 who drink alcohol in the Eastern Cape.
She added that after the Nyobeni incident they thought that everybody would have learnt from it, but that is not happening.
“We continued getting reports of children who are busy planning for these celebrations. This year in June and September again we had the same problem of children who were doing the same thing.”
She confirmed that they already know about the celebrations that are planned to happen on December 2.
“We want to tell the liquor traders that this is not going to happen; police officers will do their job. We appeal to parents to stop giving their children a lot of money, because this is one of the things that led us to have this problem.”
MEC for Finance and Economic Development Environment Affairs and Tourism, Mlungisi Mvoko, said that liquor traders should not allow children to buy alcohol in their taverns. He said that they must treat these children like their own children.
Mvoko said that members of ECLB and SAPS members will never win the battle alone, and they are appealing to the residents to play a role.
“Let us unite as community members and talk to the people who are selling alcohol that they must not allow young children to buy alcohol in their taverns.
“Parents must be part of this, and as community members we must work together,” said Mvoko.
Enyobeni survivor, Zingce Sanarana, appealed to young people to stay away from alcohol.
She said that she is one of the young people who were there at Enyobeni Tavern when the incident left 21 victims dead.
