‘ILLICIT ALCOHOL MANUFACTURING COMPROMISES NW ECONOMY’ – SAYS MEC TLHAPI

North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Tsotso Tlhapi has expressed shock on the discovery of illicit alcohol manufacturing in a white owned farm at Rietfontein outside Stilfontein.
Four men were arrested, one identified as a son of the farmer and three illegal Malawians males were arrested and charged with illicit alcohol manufacturing, while several suspects reported to have fled the scene in different directions when police approached the premises.

A search of the premises led to the discovery of what is suspected to be an illegal liquor manufacturing plant. The value of the illicit liquor is estimated at R1.4 Million.
Police confiscated raw materials allegedly used in the production of liquor, including flavourants, colourants, pots and flow bins.

Several storage tanks were also found on the premises. The contents of these tanks will be subjected to testing, as they are suspected to contain ethanol.
“These illicit plants they compromise our economy in many ways. They employ illegal national foregners and they kill our formal liquor traders,” said Tlhapi.