She added that public servants should set an example and not implicate themselves in activities that were forbidden by the state.
THE DA has requested the Khâi-Ma Municipality in the Northern Cape to institute an investigation after a municipal official was apparently arrested for being in possession of a large amount of alcohol while travelling between Pofadder and Onseepkans.
According to the DA, two suspects were stopped by the police on the R358 on Monday while transporting alcohol.
The DA constituency head of Kamiesberg Municipality, Veronica van Dyk, called on the local authority to investigate whether the official was on duty at the time of his arrest.
“If the official was travelling with a municipal permit and during work hours, he should face serious disciplinary action. The municipal official in question is tasked with travelling between towns within the municipality. He and another person were stopped by the police on the R358, past the solar plant. They were found to be in possession of a number of containers of box wine, as well as bottles of sherry, brandy and whisky,” said Van Dyk.
She added that public servants should set an example and not implicate themselves in activities that were forbidden by the state.
“At the same time, it is not surprising that the illicit movement of alcohol has been on the increase. The ongoing hard lockdown is unfortunately causing a thriving black market, at the expense of the state and to the benefit of criminals,” added Van Dyk.
“The DA hopes that the government will soon take a more rational approach towards some of the restrictions, to ensure that the economy is propelled back into action. Illicit markets steal money out of the hands of legal businesses.”
The police did not respond to media enquiries regarding the incident.