MBABANE – As December festivities peak, fuelled by late-night concerts, loud music and an overall atmosphere of heightened celebration, the rights of residents living near liquor outlets return to the spotlight.
The public is once again reminded that the Liquor Act of 2023 provides clear provisions to regulate noise, operating hours and general compliance during this busy period.
Under Section 17 of the Act, residents affected by disturbances emanating from licensed premises have the power to formally lodge complaints. The law outlines who may file such a complaint, how it should be done and what remedies can be pursued. According to the Act, a complaint may be submitted by not less than 10 adult residents living within a defined proximity of the licensed premises: Within one kilometre for outlets inside a local authority area; within 500 metres for outlets outside local authority boundaries.
Commenting on how such complaints can be avoided, Liquor Traders Association Secretary Thamsanqa Hlatshwako said noise-related grievances were not unique to December, even though the festive season amplifies them.“The issue of noise in liquor outlets has not only been a December thing, but something that is there on weekends throughout the year,” Hlatshwako said. He added that the association regularly deals with such matters. He said most issues arise when outlets operate beyond prescribed trading hours.
“We strongly urge traders to exercise compliance and note that trading hours are in place to protect those who are meant to be sleeping at the time,” he said.
Hlatshwako emphasised that residents’ rights should not be violated and reminded traders that normal trading hours end at midnight, unless a special-event permit has been approved in advance.
According to the Liquor Act, the complaint must be in writing, state the grounds for the request, and nominate a representative and address for receiving notices.
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Economist warns against Festive overspending habits
MBABANE – The festive season sells a dream, one of glittering lights, cheerful music, overflowing shopping bags and smiling social-media posts.
Streets brighten with decorations and retailers push a picture-perfect atmosphere of abundance. However, for many emaSwati, December’s glow masks a growing reality of financial strain, anxiety and mounting pressure. Instead of joy, the season often brings dread. Instead of peace, stress creeps in quietly as households struggle to balance celebrations with responsibilities that never take a holiday. University of Eswatini Lecturer and Economist Sanele Sibiya says the country is caught in a recurring cycle of festive overspending, which has become one of the most entrenched and damaging financial habits among emaSwati. He said too many citizens enter December with the mentality that financial obligations can be paused.
“Festive spending is quite an issue, as people use money as though they are not aware that they have commitments such as rent and school fees,” Sibiya said. He noted that households often dedicate entire salaries to leisure, travelling, outings and social events, only to find themselves grappling with overdue responsibilities once the new year begins. According to Sibiya, some expenses must remain ‘immune’ to any festive excitement.
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The planning gap: A year-long problem that peaks in December
MBABANE – Sibiya said many people mistakenly believe that festive savings are something that begins in November or December, when salaries and bonuses are near.
This last-minute approach, he said, creates deeper financial vulnerability.
Proper saving practices must begin as early as January if households are to avoid the annual December scramble. “We cannot wait for the last minute to start thinking about festive responsibilities,” he said. He also cautioned against the misuse of stokvel payouts and bonuses.
“The money saved up in stokvels and further the bonuses should be used profitably, but should not affect the monthly expenses allocated to your salary,” he said. In Eswatini, many families rely heavily on these end-of-year cash injections. Sibiya said using them without discipline often leads to emergencies in January, including the dangerous habit of taking out short-term loans.
Reserve seat for conductor – kombi passengers warned
BY PHUMLILE MSIBI
MBABANE – Police and public transport officials have warned against overloading this festive season, assuring that enough vehicles are available.
In this busy festive season, kombi and bus operators were urged to abide by the law and stick to the certified passenger limit. The Vice Chairperson of the Eswatini Kombis and Mid-buses Transport Association (EKMTA), Skhombisa Dlamini, said the association acknowledged that public transport is available and there is no need for overloading even in this busy season. Dlamini encouraged all public road drivers and conductors not to overload, stating that the EKMTA is totally against the practice. He insisted that each vehicle should carry passengers as per the required certified amount, according to the vehicle’s type and certificate. He warned them not to be tempted by the large number of people who want to travel, but should stick to what is required. He cited an example of a vehicle that carries 15 people, explaining that if there is a conductor, it should carry 14 passengers to accommodate the conductor, making the 15 qualified passengers for the kombi. He said the association daily reminds public road users to keep the required limit and avoid overloading, which causes havoc in accidents.
Expanding on the dangers, Dlamini said that if an overloaded vehicle is involved in a road accident, there are few chances for the passengers to survive. He said while they encourage drivers to stop overloading, they sometimes find that some vehicles have overloaded because drivers are sympathising with their customers.
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Underage drinking a persistent challenge
MBABANE – When asked about underage drinking, a growing concern during the festive season, Hlatshwako said traders are expected to take stringent steps to verify age.
He noted that while identity documents (IDs) remain the primary safeguard, many traders also rely on physical appearance to detect whether a customer may be underage.
“Normally, we rely on IDs, but identifying that a drinker is underage by assessing their appearance also works from time to time,” he said. Hlatshwako pointed out that bottle stores are the outlets most prone to such issues.
*Full article available in our publication
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