Ntsane Moahloli, 27, from Ha Sekake, Thotaneng, and Potso Mohale, 32, from Whitehill, were each sentenced to two years in prison or a fine of M2,000 by Senior Magistrate Ts’eliso Bale at the Qacha’s Nek Magistrate Court. The men, found guilty of breaching liquor licensing laws, chose to pay the fine instead of serving jail time.
The convictions stemmed from violations of Regulation 20(1)(a) and 20(4) of the Liquor Licensing Regulations No. 5 of 1999. On November 8, 2024, during a routine patrol, police officers discovered that Dontonze Tavern was still serving alcohol at 12:30 a.m. This was well past the legally permitted time of 10:00 p.m., as mandated by the tavern’s license.
Moahloli, the owner of Dontonze Tavern, was unable to provide a valid justification for operating beyond the allowed hours. As a result, his license was confiscated by the authorities. The case was further supported by testimonies from the patrolling officers and a customer, Ts’ele Ts’ele, who confirmed that the tavern had been serving alcohol at the time of the inspection.
Senior Magistrate Bale emphasized the importance of adhering to liquor regulations to maintain public order and safety. This ruling serves as a reminder to all liquor license holders about the strict enforcement of operational hours as stipulated by the law.
