No wonder Justice Isaac Lesetedi of the Lobatse High Court had to halt its implementation in regard to the operations of nightclubs - albeit temporarily.Hopefully, the lull will give the authorities a breather to revisit some aspects of the new regulations. It appears those who formulated the new measures were blind to the fact that there are sub-sectors in the liquor and entertainment industry and one size cannot fit all.
That is why all the sub-sectors have been indiscriminately lumped together. Nightclubs, liquor restaurants, bars and shebeens are erroneously treated as one and the same animal.But from our understanding, there should be distinctions as different conditions govern the operations of these establishments. For instance, an establishment must meet specific requirements to qualify as a nightclub. This was basically meant to address issues of noise pollution that now pervades most liquor and entertainment environs.
Other establishments such as bars, liquor restaurants and shebeens are not expected to meet stringent requirements slapped on nightclubs. This is because the establishments are not expected to play loud music.But in practice, bars, shebeens and liquor restaurants have literally been turned into venues of loud-music from either jukeboxes or club-sized disc-jockey consoles. These are often backed by pool tables, following the gradual demise of darts. Most of these establishments play blaring music all day long, obviously disturbing peace in their localities. The loud sounds from music in vehicles whose owners patronise these joints further poison the already sonic-polluted neighbourhoods. No wonder the cacophony that most self-respecting citizens rightly view as another Sodom and Gomorrah. It is this wayward behaviour that the authorities have dismally failed to contain. We are therefore apprehensive whether the reduction in the operating hours will address the root problem associated with liquor and entertainment. The law-enforcement agents have failed to ensure compliance with clearly defined liquor and entertainment regulations before.
