Luqman Cloete
6 October 2008
OPPOSITION is mounting in the South against the mushrooming of shebeens.
Last week, residents rallied at Keetmanshoop to call for tough action against shebeens.
This weekend it was the people of Karasburg who took their concerns to the streets.
Mobilised by the Catholic AIDS Women's Movement, dozens of people, mainly women, demonstrated at the town on Saturday to express concern over increasing alcohol and drug abuse there.
In a petition handed over to Detective Warrant Officer Coleen Brandt on Saturday, the protesters demanded the closure of all illegal shebeens and strict regulation of the trading hours of legal ones.
They said that the mushrooming of shebeens was promoting alcohol and drug abuse at the town.
Residents further petitioned for more Police visibility at the town.
They didn't only direct their concern at the authorities: they urged parents to exercise more control over their children.
Also in the firing line was the local Police station commander, who they claimed had no control over her subordinates.
The protesters also expressed concern over alleged prostitution that has taken root at the town.
"Truck drivers passing through the town are promoting prostitution," the petition reads.
"Trucks should be monitored so that young girls cannot be abused," it further stated.
Brandt pledged to forward the petition to the relevant authorities.
The protest at Keetmanshoop was supported by members of various churches, led by Bishop Zephania Kameeta and local clergymen.
Alcohol was damned as "a slow killer".
"With a drunkard nation we're doomed to failure in our efforts to stem crime and the HIV-AIDS pandemic," Bishop Kameeta said at that demonstration.
"Enough is enough, we need tough and immediate action against local shebeens," he said.
"With a drunkard nation we will not accomplish Vision 2030," he added.
Kameeta said shebeens outnumbered clinics and schools at the southern town.
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