SafeShebeens: Promoting Community Safety through ...livelihoods.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/SafeShebeens-Year-O… · Telephone calls, SMS, face to face meetings, WhatsApp and

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SafeShebeens: Promoting Community Safety through Innovation,

12 Month Impact Assessment Report

A report compiled by Bathulile Ntshingila & Nabeel Petersen

October 2015

Published by the Sustainable Livelihoods Foundation, NPC, Cape Town, South Africa

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Contents Page

1. Introduction 1

1.1 Project Background 1

2 Ongoing Project Activities and Findings 2

2.1 WhatsApp 2

2.2 Facebook 3

2.3 Rules and Safety Awareness Campaigns 3

2.4 Dedicated Website 4

2.5 Production and Distribution of Stickers 4

2.6 Stencil Spray Painting 5

2.7 Design and Distribution of Aprons 6

2.8 Infographic: An exploration of the relationship between food and alcohol within on-consumption liquor venues between Informal communities and suburbs in Cape Town 6

2.9 Collaboration with Sekika Solutions 6

3 Year One Follow-up Amendment 7

3.1 Methodology 7

3.2 Project Participants 8

3.3 Data Analysis 8

3.3.1 Collective Reporting of Shebeens 11

3.2.2 Individual Shebeen Reporting 11

4 Community Concerns and shebeen owner rules 12

4.1 Music/Volume Control 12

4.2 Shebeen Operating Hours 13

4.3 Patron responses to House Rules 13

4.4 Shebeen owner’s attitudes toward Law Enforcement 14

5. Main Impact Assessment Challenge 14

6. Conclusion & Recommendations 15

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List of Pictures, Photographs & Tables

Pictures

1. Shebeen Rules Poster 2

2. Africa: We are 1 logo 3

Photographs

1. Community members participating in the SafeShebeens Pool Tournament 3

2. Community members and SLF staff signing the Africa: We are 1 community Banner 4

3. No loud music after 23:00 5

4. No public urination 5

5. Food Vendor wearing the SafeShebeens apron that promotes food consumption while drinking, safety, respect and non-violence to his patrons and the broader community 6

6. 6-7. This shebeen was originally a shebeen fashioned from wood and corrugated steel. The owner converted the entire corrugated steel shebeen into a brick- and cement- structure to include additional space, braai/food area, storage facilities and fencing 7 8. SLF staff provided shebeens with painted venue signage (i.e. no under 18 year olds), as requested by shebeen owners 7

9-11. The original main entrance of this shebeen (Photograph 9) was converted into a food store (Photograph 10-11). The shebeen now supplies patrons and the community with various food options. The shebeen also regularly replaces and repairs roof canvassing to protect the shebeen from rainfall 8

Tables

1. Stickers that were produced for distribution within Sweet Home Farm 5

2. Documented (Potential) Safety Controls & Business Assets 9

3. Documented Safety Control fluctuation (i.e. between 2014 and 2015) 10

4. Documented Business Asset fluctuation (i.e. between 2014 and 2015) 10

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SafeShebeens: Promoting Community Safety through Innovation,

12 Month Impact Assessment Report

1. Introduction

This report aims to highlight and present changes, both positive and negative, associated with safety

and business growth in the participating shebeens in Sweet Home Farm (SHF), Philippi that resulted

from the SafeShebeens project. The paper will provide an overview of some of the project’s ongoing

activities and will be followed by a detailed account of the impact assessment process and analysis on

collective and individual shebeens. This report presents documented changes and data collected

during surveys, interviews and visits to the participating shebeens in SHF during the week of the 7-11

July 2015. During this week, the SLF team revisited the participating shebeens in SHF to re-administer

in-depth surveys that explored shebeen owners’ attitudes toward safety as well as micro-safety

control strategies employed in the respective venues. This report outlines the strategies, in terms of

safety controls and the accumulation of business assets, and/or lack thereof, documented on the

premises of the participating shebeen owners.

The report also addresses responses by shebeen owners to community concerns highlighted during

workshops held during the month of April 2014. Results from an attitude assessment will also be

shared to show the impact of the project on how shebeen owners trade and how they perceive safety

for themselves, their family, patrons and community. Lastly, the report will provide recommendations

for the project.

1.1 Project background

The SafeShebeens project was piloted in Sweet Home Farm, a 16.5 hectare informal settlement in

Philippi East, Cape Town. This settlement is home to approximately 9000 residents. Virtually all

community members live in small shacks and the settlement lacks proper roads, electricity access,

plumbing and designated public space for recreation. Despite this deficit of basic infrastructure, SHF

nonetheless houses approximately 111 informal shebeens.

Using a participatory approach the project aimed to contribute to enhancing community safety

through innovation with shebeen owners with the support of local leaders and community members.

The main goals of the SafeShebeens Project were: conceptualising, developing and piloting a strategy

to reduce risks and harms within and around liquor venues, with the ultimate aim of strengthening

self-regulation amongst traders themselves, and strengthening the role of the community.

Additionally, in contributing to reducing liquor harms, the project aimed to:

broaden the understanding of patron rules as well as safety and control mechanisms applied by shebeen owners as tools to reduce harms in shebeens and decrease negative impact on the broader community;

develop and pilot a participatory approach and design elements of the SafeShebeens strategy to assess their value to bring about sustainable social change;

build community awareness of appropriate and inappropriate behaviour around drinking and shebeen sociality.

The overall project aim was not to address and solve all social and other problems in SHF but rather to contribute toward community safety. Additional detailed information on the project is available in the SafeShebeens Narrative Report that outlines the inception of the project, its methodology, its intent, outputs and engagement processes. This narrative report is available for download and has been distributed to interested persons and all stakeholders involved [Online: http://livelihoods.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Safe-Shebeens-Narrative-Report.pdf].

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Picture 1: Shebeen Rules Poster

This is an example of a rules poster that was issued to shebeen owners. The shebeen owners collectively conceptualized the rules and accompanying signs. Individual shebeen owners then selected the rules and signs they want implemented in their venues.

2. Ongoing Project Activities and Findings

Telephone calls, SMS, face to face meetings, WhatsApp and Facebook were the primary means of

communication between SLF staff and the participating shebeen owners. Various alternative

communication tools (including stickers and stencil spray painting) were disseminated amongst

community members to raise awareness.

2.1 WhatsApp

The smart phone application WhatsApp has been used as a communication platform between SLF and

participating shebeen owners in SHF. A WhatsApp communication group, comprised of SLF staff and

participating shebeen owners, was established as a means to increase information sharing, stimulate

communication between the various stakeholders and relay notices. A total of five shebeen owners

regularly participated in WhatsApp communication. This core group of WhatsApp users relayed

important messages to other shebeen owners located within their immediate vicinity.

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2.2 Facebook Page

A dedicated Facebook page titled “SafeShebeens” was established as a community communication

platform and as a means to relay the milestones and activities of the project to a broader audience.

The Facebook page can be accessed online (https://www.facebook.com/safetyandshebeens?fref=ts).

The page currently has seven hundred and sixty two (762) likes, including followers from abroad (i.e.

United Kingdom, Mexico, Lesotho, Pakistan and the USA). More than 75% of likes originate from

Gauteng. Fourteen percent (14%) of the likers are female in comparison to a total of 86% male likers.

2.3 Rules and Safety Awareness Campaigns

A total of four Rules and Safety Awareness Campaigns have been hosted in SHF with the intention of

increasing the visibility of the project and the various safety controls and rules which were

collaboratively developed by the participating shebeen owners. A pool tournament was held from the

25-26 April 2015 which aimed to expose youth to the safety controls and rules. Five shebeens hosted

of the Pool Tournament, featuring eight competing teams, each team comprised of three persons.

Four women participated in the tournament. The aim of the pool tournament was to sensitize the

pool players, spectators and shebeen patrons to the Safe Shebeens rules and signs.

Photograph 1: Community members participating in the SafeShebeens Pool Tournament

Further to this objective, the tournament was held over the weekend before the national Freedom Day (i.e. 27 April 2015). “Africa: we are 1” (see below) stickers were designed, printed and distributed within the community with the aim to raise awareness around the importance and tolerance in the aftermath of another wave of xenophobic attacks.

Picture 2: Africa: We are 1 logo

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As most shebeens featured the “Africa we are one” stickers as a collective call against Xenophobia, community members were called upon to sign with their hand print on a big banner in the shape of the African map.

Photograph 2: Community members and SLF staff signing the Africa: We are 1 community Banner. Note the “no public urination” sign on the wall in the background. These signs are visible across the community.

2.4 Dedicated Webpage

The project specific webpage and various resources related to the project can be accessed on the SLF

website [Online: http://livelihoods.org.za/projects/safe-shebeens].

Various methods of communication were attempted but did not go without any challenges as

responses were lower than anticipated. The Facebook Page reached many youth around South Africa

but not many in SHF and this can be attributed to the context of the community with regards to

poverty, literacy levels as well as the lack of publicly available and accessible internet facilities. Yet,

the more conventional ways of communication such as in-person meetings and telephone calls were

very successful.

2.5 Production and Distribution of Stickers

SLF produced 14 stickers depicting various rules that were distributed within the shebeens, spaza

shops and the broader community. A total of 1000 stickers, of varied designs, were produced and

distributed within the community.

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Table 1: Stickers that were produced for distribution within SHF

2.6 Stencil Spray Painting

Ten stencils of various rules were designed as a means of extending the SafeShebeens applicable rules

to the community. Various surfaces were painted with white paint after which the stencils were used

to spray paint the rules signs. A prominent community member assisted with this task, the results of

which are visible around SHF.

Photograph 3: No loud music after 23:00 Photograph 4: No public urination

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2.7 Design & Distribution of Aprons

Further to the objective of extending safety and visibility of rules’ symbols to the community, and as

a means of linking food consumption to alcohol consumption as a safety control, 20 practical aprons

were designed and distributed to food vendors across the community. The aprons were designed after

discussions were held with food vendors (store based and mobile) who indicated that shebeen

patrons, not exclusively, provided them with a steady clientele base. Within the township or informal

environment, rarely does one encounter a shebeen that also sells food to customers. The aprons

provide visibility to the street food vendors, links food vendors to the SafeShebeens project, promotes

food consumption while drinking alcohol and acts as an additional medium to relay safety messages

to patrons and community members.

Photograph 5: Food Vendor wearing the SafeShebeens apron that promotes food consumption while drinking, safety, respect and non-violence to his patrons and the broader community

2.8 Infographic: An exploration of the relationship between food and alcohol within on-

consumption liquor venues between Informal communities and suburbs in Cape Town

SLF has conducted extensive research exploring on-consumption liquor venues who sell food to their

patrons within the informal environments in comparison to the Suburbs and central Cape Town. An

infographic has been developed which presents this data which was sourced from 118 venues in

informal communities and 118 from Capetonian suburbs.

2.9 Potential Collaboration with Sekika Solutions

After studying the SafeShebeens project, Sekika Solutions contacted SLF for advice and potential

collaboration on a project revolving around safety and responsible trading/drinking in Taverns in

Khayelitsha.

“Sekika Solutions will be rolling-out an initiative to support Tavern Owners to become more responsible

in terms of how they operate their businesses. The initiative involves utilising a field force that will

support and mentor Tavern Owners on what they need to do to ensure that they comply with the

law. The field force will also be used to engage the relevant community stakeholders and provide

feedback to the Tavern Owners of how they are being perceived within the Communities in which they

operate. Sekika have been consulting all relevant stakeholders in order to ensure that different point

of views are considered to ensure that the Pilot is a success”.

The SafeShebeens rules will be incorporated into new posters and displayed in the Khayelitsha

taverns. Thus giving the idea a potentially wide impact.

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3. Year One Follow-up Amendment

3.1 Methodology

The SLF team was comprised of a sketch artist, photographer and two researchers.

The sketch artist provided a visual accompaniment to present the venue and any safety mechanisms

including; seating arrangements; venue layout; toilet; etc. The photographer documented

structural/physical and other changes within and outside the venue. The two researchers were tasked

with administering surveys with shebeen owners to ascertain whether there have been any changes

in attitudes regarding safety as well as patron responses to the SafeShebeens safety rules

implemented in individual and collective shebeens.

Collectively, the team sought to conduct surveys with shebeen owners; conduct unstructured

interviews with shebeen owners; document any changes (accumulation/reduction) to the respective

venues (i.e. using sketch artists and photographers) and; study the respective venues in comparison

to the initial venue assessments and interviews conducted during the first phase of the project.

Photograph 6 – 7: This shebeen was originally a shebeen fashioned from wood and corrugated steel. The owner converted the entire corrugated steel shebeen into a brick- and cement- structure to include

additional space, braai/food area, storage facilities and fencing

Photograph 8: SLF staff provided shebeens with painted venue signage (i.e. no under 18 year olds), as requested by shebeen owners

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Photograph 9-11: The original main entrance of this shebeen (photograph 9) was converted into a food store (photograph 10-11). The shebeen now supplies patrons and the community with various food options. The

shebeen also regularly replaces and repairs roof canvassing to protect the shebeen from rainfall

3.2 Project Participants Initially, 16 shebeen owners participated in the pilot project. However, when revisiting the field to

conduct the year one impact assessment, a total of 9 shebeen owners were available for interviews

and/or venue assessments. This impact assessment report is focused on their venues. However, of the

9 participating shebeen owners only 4 completed the entire survey, i.e. the remaining 5 shebeen

owners only participated in the venue assessment.

Furthermore, 2 shebeen owners were not operational any longer due to personal circumstances; 2

were running liquor off-consumption venues (as opposed to drinking and recreational venues)

supplying liquor to shebeens and individuals in the community and; 3 shebeen owners could not be

reached.

3.3 Data Analysis

The data and corresponding discussion is structured into: i. a collective analysis of shebeens, ii. an

analysis of individual shebeens. The discussion will be focused on: accumulation of safety

controls/assets by the shebeen owners, i.e. safety controls or business assets that the business did not

have when initially visited but been acquired when revisited in July 2015 and; reduction of

assets/controls referring to the safety controls and business assets that the shebeens had when

initially visited versus the controls and assets that the shebeen did not have when revisited.

Comprehensive lists of noted safety controls and business assets are listed below.

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Table 2: Documented (Potential) Safety Controls & Business Assets

# Safety Controls (n=42) # Business Assets (n=27)

1 Bouncer 1 Bottle opener

2 Searching 2 Jukebox

3 Guard dog 3 Pool table

4 Surveillance 4 Hi Fi System

5 Windows 5 Television

6 Security bars 6 Fridge

7 Security gate 7 Covered floor/Carpet

8 Security OUTSIDE gate 8 Microwave

9 Outside lighting (Private) 9 Speaker/s

10 Outside lighting (Street lights)

10 Electrical connection

11 Alcohol products 11 DSTV

12 Inside lighting 12 Braai facility

13 Closing times 13 Cooking facility

14 Outside seating 14 Blankets

15 Safety home 15 Serving widow/hatch

16 Cleaning 16 Waterproofing canvas

17 Family communication 17 Yard fencing

18 Ablution toilet 18 Brewing

19 Urinating Area

19 Two plate stove/Heater/ Bonfire (Heating)

20 Home-made toilets 20 Alcohol Posters

21 Urinal 21 Branding

22 Lock/key for toilet 22 Beer crates for stock

23 Benches 23 Fan

24 Tables 24 Dustbin

25 Food 25 Wheely bin

26 Glasses 26 Transport

27 Ashtrays 27 Computer

28 No under 18 allowed

29 Music control

30 Cell communication

31 Condoms

32 Glass recycling

33 Beer crates (as seating)

34 Chairs

35 Beer rails

36 Collecting empty bottles

37 Door policy

38 Foam mattress

39 House rules

40 Red card

41 Parking

42 Lock

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Shebeen venues vary in size, the liquor they sell and the market served and this influences the kind of

safety controls and assets found in each shebeen. The safety controls and business assets lists were

compiled during the first phase of the project and incorporated into individual posters.

For the purposes of confidentiality, individual names are not revealed in the tables (3 and 4) below.

Instead, shebeens have been issued with an identity number. The documented safety controls and

business assets relevant to specific shebeens are presented in Table 3 and Table 4.

Table 3: Documented Safety Control fluctuations (i.e. between 2014 and 2015)

Table 4: Documented Business Asset fluctuations (i.e. between 2014 and 2015)

The “accumulation of controls” or “accumulation of assets” refer to safety controls or business assets

that the business did not have when initially visited but have now been brought into the business. In

contrast the “reduction of controls” or the “reduction of assets” refer to controls or assets that were

documented as controls/assets when initially visited but are now no longer evident. The collective

amount of potential safety controls is 42 and the collective amount of potential business assets

amounts to 27, both of which are listed in Table 2.

Safety Controls (n=42)

Identity Visit 1 Visit 2

Accumulation of Controls

Reduction Of Controls

# % # % # #

1 12 29% 25 60% 13 0

2 24 57% 27 64% 5 2

3 15 36% 20 48% 6 1

4 17 40% 26 62% 11 2

5 17 40% 25 60% 9 1

6 17 40% 19 45% 3 1

7 20 48% 27 64% 8 1

8 17 40% 22 52% 6 1

9 21 50% 29 69% 9 1

Total 160 42% 220 58% 70 10

Business Assets (n=27)

Identity Visit 1 Visit 2

Accumulation of Assets

Reduction of Assets

# % # % # #

1 9 30% 13 48% 5 1

2 9 30% 13 48% 4 0

3 7 26% 12 44% 5 0

4 10 37% 11 41% 1 0

5 13 48% 15 56% 2 0

6 6 22% 7 26% 1 0

7 14 52% 18 67% 4 0

8 14 52% 15 56% 2 1

9 11 41% 14 52% 3 0

Total 93 38% 118 49% 27 2

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3.3.1 Collective Reporting of Shebeens

Overall, the participating shebeens have modestly increased their accumulation of safety controls by

19% (n=70). Additionally, there has been a documented reduction of safety controls by 3% (n=10).

When first visiting SHF these participating shebeens collectively possessed 160 (i.e. 42% of total

potential) safety controls compared to the 220 (i.e. 58% of total potential) safety controls observed

when revisiting the shebeens to ascertain the impact of the project.

These participating shebeens have increased their business assets from a collective total of 93 (i.e.

38% of total potential) business assets when initially visited in 2014 to 118 (i.e. 49% of total potential)

business assets when revisited in July 2015. The overall collective business assets has thereby

increased by 11% (i.e. n=27). There has, however, also been a reduction of business assets by 1% (i.e.

n=2). A discussion on the accumulation and reduction of safety controls and business assets by

individual shebeens follow.

3.3.2 Individual Shebeen Reporting

Shebeen 1 had a 31% (n=13) increase it its accumulation of safety controls with no documented loss

in safety controls since the initial visit. This venue displayed the highest amount of accumulated

controls and accumulated business assets within this sample. The shebeen initially had 12 safety

controls (29% of potential controls) when initially visited and featured 25 (60%) controls when

revisited. This shebeen featured a 19% (n=5) increase in its accumulation of business assets versus a

4% (n=1) reduction in business assets. The reduction in controls or assets, however, are not without

complication. This particular shebeen removed its fencing, in order to make provision (in terms of

spacing) for an ablution toilet. In effect, the removal of its perimeter fencing (n=0) made provision for

sufficient space to install an ablution toilet for its patrons (n=1).

Shebeen 2 displayed a 12% (i.e. 5/42) increase in its accumulation of safety controls and a 5% (i.e.

2/42) reduction of controls. The shebeen was initially documented as exhibiting 57% (i.e. 24/42) of

the potential safety controls versus displaying 64% (i.e. 27/42) during the impact assessment. This

shebeen owner discarded the dog as a security measure by acting on community requests, as the dog

caused harm to community members who used the shebeen backyard as a thoroughfare. In addition,

shebeen 2 displayed a 15% (n=4) increase in business assets from initially exhibiting 9 assets (i.e. 30%

of total potential assets) to 13 assets (i.e. 48%) when revisited.

During the initial visit to SHF, shebeen 3 possessed 15 (i.e. 36%) of the potential safety controls versus

20 controls (i.e. 48%) when revisited. This shebeen increased its controls by 14% (n=6) and reduced

its controls by 2% (n=1). This shebeen initially recorded security gates as a security measure which

was broken and not in use when revisited in July 2015. Additionally, this business had 19% growth in

its assets (n=5) i.e. 7 (26%) documented assets when visited in 2014 in comparison to 12 (or 44% of

total potential) assets when revisited.

Shebeen 4 displayed the second highest increase in its accumulation of safety controls. The shebeen

increased its controls by 26% (n=11), i.e. it initially possessed 17 (40%) controls compared to 26 (62%)

safety controls possessed during the impact assessment visit, and reduced its controls by 5% (n=2).

The urinating space, however, was replaced with an ablution toilet and the tables were removed for

additional seating when revisiting the shebeen. In this instance certain safety controls that existed in

the initial visit were removed in order to make space for alternative assets, i.e. ablution toilet and

seating. The shebeen marked a 4% increase in business assets (n=1), i.e. the installation and availability

of electricity.

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Shebeen 5 showed a 21% (n=9) increase and a 2% (n=1) reduction in safety controls. The shebeen

replaced its initial urinating space with a urinal as one of its safety controls. SLF documented a 7%

(n=2) increase in business assets, i.e. posters and beer crates to store stock.

Shebeen 6 displayed a 7% (n=3) increase and a 2% (n=1) decrease in safety controls. New safety

controls introduced included: cleaning; house rules and introduction of the red card. The decrease in

in safety controls refers to the lockable toilets that the shebeen had in the initial visit. When revisiting

the venue the toilets could not lock and in effect compromises the patrons’ safety. The venue

accumulated 1 additional asset between visits, displaying a 4% increase in business assets i.e. posters.

Shebeen 7 exhibited 19% (n=8) in accumulation and a 2% (n=1) decrease in safety controls. During the

initial visit the venue marked 48% (n=20) of potential safety controls compared to 64% (n=27) when

revisited. The safety control that does not feature any longer refers to the home made toilet that the

shebeen had when first visited. The shebeen now has access to a neighbour’s lockable toilet. This

venue displayed a fifteen percent 15% (n=4) improvement in business assets, from first possessing

52% (n=14) of potential assets to 67% (n=18) of potential assets. The accumulated assets include a

microwave; cooking facilities/equipment; beer crates to store stock and; a fan.

Shebeen 8 presented a 14% (n=6) increase and a 2% (n=1) decrease in safety controls. The shebeen

initially documented possessing 40% (n=17) of potential safety controls in comparison to the 52%

(n=22) recorded when revisited. The single reduction in controls refer to drinking glasses on premises

that the shebeen now does not possess or make available for patrons. The business features a 7%

(n=2) increase and a 4% (n=1) decrease in business assets. The business does not have a fan in its

inventory any longer.

Shebeen 9 displayed a 21% (n=9) increase and a 2% (n=1) decline in safety controls. The business

initially documented having 50% (n=21) of the potential controls in comparison to possessing 69%

(n=29) during the impact assessment. This business no longer searches patrons upon entering the

venue. In addition, the business saw an increase in 11% (n=3) in business assets, i.e. jukebox, posters

and a wheely bin.

4. Community & shebeen owner concerns

In relation to the documented accumulation and decline of safety controls and business assets, various

community concerns were raised. Community members highlighted the following thematic areas,

relative to shebeens within the community, which were troublesome for the community, including:

music/volume control; business operating hours; house rules and; law enforcement. These were the

main concerns. However, the following additional concerns were raised by shebeen owners and local

leaders: rules with regards to the door policy1, under-age drinking, the availability and provision of

food at or close to shebeens and the control of shebeens using House Rules.

4.1 Music/Volume control

With regards to noise and music/volume control, 1 out of the 9 shebeens showed a positive change in

noise/music/volume control. As stated by the shebeen owner, “my neighbours requested a section

meeting where I was given an ultimatum to either be sanctioned by the leadership or to only play music

1 Door Policy refers to rules around which persons may not be allowed to enter the shebeen such as

intoxicated persons, pregnant women, or underage children. This may differ across and between

shebeens.

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until 10 pm in the week and 24 hours in the weekend. I accepted and have not defaulted on this

agreement.”

The remaining 8 shebeens, however, consistently regulated music/noise/volume within the shebeens.

This suggests that the noise regulation is desired by the community but this community concern has

not adequately been addressed or successfully been implemented by the shebeens throughout SHF.

4.2 Shebeen operating hours

A single shebeen owner out of the 9 committed to specific operating times, i.e. 8am-9pm during the

week and 8am-10pm on weekends. This shebeen owner’s operating hours are recorded on the

Shebeen poster in the venue.

The remainder of shebeen owners have not committed to specific operating times. Additionally, 4

shebeen owners have admitted to operating for 24 hours from Friday to Sunday. Some shebeens have

openly stated that it is hard to adhere to strict operating hours over weekends as it presents an

opportunity for additional income, as stated by one owner who said that “on weekends business is

good and its temping to keep open until late even if the community complains."

Weekends present the ideal opportunity for businesses to increase sales. This, however, leaves their

patrons and the immediate community vulnerable to criminal activities and undesirable behaviours,

as mentioned by a shebeen owner who said that “A certain shebeener known for running a twenty

four hour drinking venue had gun-men coming into their shebeen around 01:00 on a Saturday morning

and started shooting, and a neighbour’s child got shot in the leg while sleeping in their family shack. If

this shebeen was closed this would not have happened.”

Apart from merely relaying the business operating times to patrons and the immediate community,

operating times also acts as a safety precaution for shebeen owners, and patrons alike. An additional

shebeen owner stated that “A few years back someone was killed just outside my gate long after I had

closed, luckily the police had patrolled hours before and had noticed that my shebeen had closed so

when the death happened I was not blamed for it. Imagine if I had not closed?"

This was further illustrated by a shebeen that was recently robbed at gun point. This incident resulted

in the shooting and death of a patron, which had unforeseen positive safety consequences. The

shebeen owner was forced to operate within very specific operating hours which ensured his patrons’

safety, whilst patrons saw the need and respect for house rules.

4.3 Patron responses to House Rules

The 4 shebeen owners that were interviewed during the impact assessment phase indicated that there

was an overall understanding of most of these rules by their patrons. One shebeen owner stated “All

my rules are easily understood and appreciated by my customers because there are signs and written

words." Another shebeen owner attributed the effortless comprehension of his rules to the fact that

his patrons had seen them in other shebeens and thus abided by them.

In one shebeen the “No under 18’s” rule was well understood and respected while in another this rule

was contested and hardly ever obeyed, along with the “No pregnant women” rule. One of the shebeen

owners mentioned "What is worse is that they (under 18 year olds and pregnant women) not only

insist on buying but both want to sit in my shebeen." Similarly the “No marijuana” rule was understood

and appreciated in one shebeen, but this rule was harder to enforce in another shebeen whose

neighbours are Rastafarian and who openly trade in marijuana.

The “No sexual harassment” rule was mentioned by a single shebeen owner who declared that "the

no sexual harassment sign has not been very relevant to my customers who all men most times."

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Rules pertaining to the use of the pool table were easy to understand but it has been difficult for pool

players to break the bad habits of smoking over it, sitting on it or placing glasses and bottles on the

pool table. Although there has been improvement in patrons’ behaviour when playing or using the

pool table, the extent of these behavioural improvements is yet to be gauged.

The rules regarding paying for broken beers or medical bills were not easily understood or agreed with

because patrons preferred to consider each case on its own merit, instead of assigning the same

punishment for cases that could have varying circumstances. Furthermore, this was the feeling with

reference to the “No Vulgar Language” rule as iterated by one shebeen owner: "People who come

here use vulgar language in a playful manner. It does not mean that they are fighting or insulting each

other so they did not like that this rule stops them from showing 'affection' to one another the best

way they know how."

The participating shebeen owners have embraced the rules that they committed to and because of

this they gained more control of their venues in the regulation of patron behaviour. Some rules, even

though not popular among its recipients, such as the “No Dzaiging” rule, have stimulated debates and

humour around undesirable behaviours.

4.4 Shebeen owner’s attitudes toward Law Enforcement

The four shebeen owners that participated in the impact assessment surveys unanimously suggested

that they would not contact law enforcement or the police for assistance at their respective venues

unless it is absolutely necessary. In response to this query one shebeen owner said “No the police will

just come in and confiscate the beer and not attend to the matter. I would rather deal with the matter

on my own than call them.”

Shebeen owners prefer to address misunderstandings and grievances within their respective venues

by reference to their house rules (verbal and written) as well as on accepted traditional practices. An

illustration of such a grievance and a proposed internal solution, as proposed by one shebeen owner,

is when two parties, who either know each other or are family, are involved in a fight within the venue.

The shebeen owner stated that “they (the persons fighting with each other) can always find a way of

compensating each other for any losses arising from the fight.” Thus, shebeen owners and patrons

have developed various solutions to problems that arise within the shebeens without involving law

enforcement and the police, whom, in their opinion, are not supportive of their businesses or

enforcing law within their venues.

The challenge around responsible trading is exacerbated by pressures imposed upon shebeen

owners by law enforcement and the police. Additionally, rumours of shebeen owners and

community members that have forged working relationships with the police as police informers

working against shebeens, particularly during police raids, resulted in a lack of trust between

shebeen owners. Owners are thus reluctant to trust each other and/or contact local authorities for

assistance unless it is deemed absolutely necessary.

5. Main Impact Assessment Challenge

During the impact assessment site visit the team arrived to a tense SHF due to the early morning police

raids targeted at liquor venues. Several shebeen owners in this project were affected by the raids

resulting in some family members being arrested. Their availability for the impact assessment was

affected. The intensified raids were said to be in response to the Khayelitsha stampede in a liquor

venue in which 6 under-age girls were killed in June 2015.

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6. Conclusion/Recommendations

The SafeShebeens was never intended to be a solution for reducing violence or harms related to

liquor, it served merely as a contribution to reducing these harms through facilitating a thought-

provoking and reflective- process through various collaborations with community stakeholders. The

project sought to, first and foremost, identify the safety controls that shebeen owners had in their

venues and, using peer review methodologies, allow the shebeeners to share these controls to

improve safety in each other’s businesses.

A collective of 25 shebeens participated in the study, of which SLF maintains regular contact with 18

active shebeens, including the 9 new shebeen recruits that received their rules posters in October

2015. All shebeens received their shebeen specific rules posters, whereas only the 16 original

shebeens received shebeen posters. Furthermore, a total of 19 aprons were distributed to local food

vendors in the community and 70 rule specific signs were spray-painted across and within the

community to ensure the visibility of non-violence and safety messaging and signage to the broader

community.

Successfully, local ownership of the project, at least by shebeen owners, was realized. The shebeen

network established by the project still exists and regularly maintains contact with SLF.

It was found that asserting control as a shebeen owner resulted in the promotion of desirable

behaviour from patrons and this encouraged commitment from shebeen owners to promote safety

within and around their venues. This was aided by the introduction of “House Rules” which was

designed to govern appropriate behaviour and interaction within these public shared spaces. The

house rules initiative has seen substantial growth and visibility both within the community and within

Khayelitsha taverns, in a project initiated by Sekika Solutions. The community, in response, has been

sensitized to the house rules and its promotion of appropriate behaviour.

The project has seen modest improvements, some of which were of the shebeen owners own accord,

especially around serving food and not allowing underage drinking in their venues. Some businesses

have shown growth in diversifying their products both for business growth and as safety measures,

i.e. promoting food consumption by availing food to patrons in their shebeens

A number of factors influenced the SLF team’s success in reaching and recording changes for all

participating shebeen owners. For instance, political influence and conflict was a challenge for the

continued involvement for some shebeen owners who are also part of the local leadership. Some

shebeen owners have diversified their trade to meet the pressures of the impact related to police

raids and demands from their customers. This particular change may have been a challenge for the

impact assessment but it was also one of the successes of the overall project.

Additional research within these venues, with shebeen owners, with shebeen patrons and with

community members need to be conducted to ascertain the relevance and impact that Safe Shebeens

had on the broader environment, i.e. Sweet Home Farm, Philippi, as well as the potential to extend

and/or replicate the project to other communities. The progress of the adoption of the “house rules”

initiative by Sekika Solutions in Khayelitsha taverns and its patrons will ascertain the relevance and

impact of the “house rules” to a broader environment