The residents of Krönlein suburb at Keetmanshoop in the //Kharas region are once again petitioning the Liquor Board and the Keetmanshoop Magistrate’s Court for the closure of Oppi Hukki night club situated amid two churches, two primary schools and residential properties.
In a letter written to the authorities, community members are questioning how and why the new owners of Oppihukkie night club and liquor store were granted a licence to reopen the businesses.
They were closed in 2006 after the Liquor Board withdrew their operating licence.
Krönlein spokesperson Lizzy Titus says St Matthias Primary School, Ebenhaezer Lutheran Church and St Nicholas Ame church are located close to these businesses, while most of the people owning houses around the club are elderly and sick people.
“People are urinating in front of our houses. Drinking and reckless driving is the order of the night on weekends until Sunday morning.
“This we’ve already reported to the municipality traffic officers. The liquor shop opens at 08h00 and operates until 22h00,” she says.
She says schoolgoing children are affected the most as the noise pollution from the club starts at 13h00 already and continues until 02h00.
Titus says the same schoolgoing children, however, are the club’s clientele.
She says stabbings and violent behaviour are frequent occurrences.
“About two months ago a young man was stabbed in his back, and came running straight into my living room asking for help. Excuse me, I myself am a vulnerable pensioner, caring for a bedridden sickly woman. How can we help him?
“Two security guards were also stabbed and their cases are currently under investigation by the police.
“So, how safe are we?” Titus asks.
Chairperson of the Liquor Board and Keetmanshoop magistrate Unchen Konjore says even in a case where a liquor licence was withdrawn in the past and new licences are granted, aggrieved parties need to follow the same route of drafting a petition, signed by 15 community members within a one-kilometre radius.
She says thereafter the aggrieved party and the license holders need to appear before the Liquor Board’s committee with witnesses to state their case, and to present evidence and arguments.
“Unfortunately the first licence was withdrawn when I wasn’t the magistrate. But we are reviewing the documentation concerning Oppi Hukkie to establish what the grounds were on which the magistrate came to the decision that the licence needs to be withdrawn.
“However, that is only one side of the process. The aggrieved parties need to comply with Section 65 of the Liquor Act and follow the grievance procedure by laying a complaint, bringing a petition and appearing before the board before a decision can be made,” Konjore says.
Court documents show the new owner of Oppi Hukki applied for an operating licence under Dabasen Investments CC, which was granted in February 2019.
The owners also operate a supermarket on the same premises.
Oppi Hukki owner Llewelyn Majiedt says he is aware of the ongoing petition, but will fight community members as he is operating within the approved hours.
“I already have a lawyer for this matter, and will not leave it there, as I have not transgressed any law,” he says.
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