News24 | City of Cape Town says come fetch your confiscated booze... but there's a catch

The City of Cape Town has urged people to come collect their confiscated alcohol, before it is destroyed.

• The City of Cape Town called on people whose booze was confiscated for drinking in public to go and fetch it. 
• There is an impoundment fee, and a fine of R500. 
• The message came with a reminder that drinking in public is illegal. 

The City of Cape Town wants you to go and fetch your confiscated booze before they pour it down the drain, but there's a catch. 

You have to pay the fine and impoundment fees first. Otherwise, it all gets poured away. 

There's another catch - everything has an inventory tag, so you must show your confiscation receipt to prove that it's that prized crate of champagne back from that day you and your friends were getting your "zekethe" on at the beach.   

"Should an individual wish to reclaim their goods, they can do so once the fine and impoundment release fee are paid," said City Safety MMC JP Smith. 

The fine is R500. 

Between 1 December 2022 and 31 January 2023, 23 121 units totalling 10 500 litres were confiscated. 

READ | WATCH | City of Cape Town impounds luxury vehicles without number plates

Over the weekend of 20-22 October, 1 176 units of alcohol (604 litres) were confiscated. 

Smith said the City was bracing for a busy festive season, with alcohol abuse, drinking in public, and driving after drinking being the biggest challenges for emergency services and law enforcement.  

"As we head towards the year-end festivities, the City reminds the public that drinking in public is not allowed. In far too many instances, it sours the enjoyment of those around you, but also puts lives at risk when people get behind the wheel drunk," he said.

Unclaimed goods would not be sold, but destroyed after three months, with Smith adding that there was a "rigorous" system of accountability to make sure the alcohol did not mysteriously disappear from the pound.