DESPITE the Mbabane Municipality’s recent move to close liquor outlets operating within residential areas, some bottle stores in Sidwashini have continued to trade illegally, including on Sundays, by selling alcohol through backdoors and hidden points of sale.
The municipality recently clamped down on liquor outlets located close to homes in a bid to restore peace and order in residential neighbourhoods. However, this publication has learnt that several outlets affected by the closure are still selling alcohol quietly, with strict instructions to customers not to expose them.
During visits to Sidwashini over the weekend, several individuals were observed walking along the Sidwashini public road carrying bottles of alcohol. The individuals claimed they had purchased the alcohol from liquor outlets that had been ordered to close.
Customers said they were directed to knock on back doors or use side entrances, where alcohol was discreetly handed to them. Some buyers reported that prices were higher than usual, saying the secrecy surrounding the transactions had created a new black market for liquor in the area.
“The alcohol we bought today is not at the normal price we are used to. Because the shops are officially closed, they are now selling secretly and charging whatever they want,” said one customer.
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Residents and regular patrons said the closure of liquor outlets was proving to be both an advantage and a disadvantage for affected business owners.
“The business owners face the risk of suffering losses, especially since some stocked large quantities of alcohol before they were told to close,” said a regular customer, adding that the bottle stores had operated in the area for years and were a familiar social space for locals.
However, another customer said some outlet owners were exploiting the situation to make more money, likening it to the COVID-19 lockdown period when alcohol sales were banned.
Several of the illegal spots are reportedly selling traditional brews such as umcombotsi and marula beer (emaganu), while others have gone further to stock bottled spirits, ciders and beers, all sold from hidden rooms and backyards.
Residents alleged that these illegal operations were taking advantage of the closure of licensed liquor stores by attracting customers who have nowhere else to purchase alcohol.
Mbabane Municipal Council Information and Public Relations Officer Lucky Tsabedze said the Liquor Act, 2023 provides for penalties against licence holders who continue to trade unlawfully.
He referred to Section 61 of the Act, which states:
“A licence holder who continues to trade in liquor without a licence shall, in addition to any sentence imposed by a court, pay such amount as may be prescribed.”
“Enforcement actions, including the imposition of fines, fall within the ambit of the law and are subject to due legal process,” reads part of the Act.
Tsabedze said issues of compliance and alignment with the legislation had been raised, with some operators complying while others did not.
“The reason this is such a hot topic today is the reviewed Liquor Licensing Act No. 27 of 2023. Years later, some liquor outlets are still not compliant,” he said.
He added that in urban planning, the location of liquor outlets is not merely a business transaction but a spatial and social intervention, as legislation allows authorities to balance economic freedom with residents’ right to safe and orderly communities.
