Cape Town – The owner of Osi’s tavern in Khayelitsha has consented to the interim suspension of his liquor licence pending the finalisation of a full hearing before the liquor authority tribunal, his lawyer said on Thursday.Tribunal presiding officer Vincent Bergh confirmed the suspension through an order a few minutes later, saying tribunal members had come to a unanimous decision.
The suspension of Phumlani Abraham’s licence would remain in place until the finalisation of a full hearing to determine whether to revoke it, amend the conditions or impose a fine.
The hearing was set down for the week of August 17.
Six people died just over a week ago after a metal railing on a set of outside stairs gave way. Two more were killed when the vehicle they were transported in crashed on the way to hospital.
Witnesses claim a fight broke out and shots were fired, leading to the stampede.
The tavern’s lawyer, Advocate Jantjie van Niekerk, told the tribunal that his client was in the process of returning his liquor to Makro.
Johan Smit, representing the provincial liquor authority, would have to file his papers two weeks before the hearing in August.
He had applied to the tribunal for an interim suspension because he believed there was an imminent threat to the health, wellbeing and safety of the public. Had Abrahams not consented to the suspension, two or three witnesses would have been called to present evidence.
The hearing room at the authority’s offices in Bellville was packed with media and members of the public.
“We are aware that this case has attracted a lot of media attention. This is not a court. This is merely an administrative body which is a creature of statute,” Bergh said.
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