CONFISCATED BOOZE NOT OURS - SB

MBABANE – The Royal Swaziland Police (RSP) could be stuck with the liquor that was confiscated from looters in the Malagwane accident as Swaziland Beverages (SB) has distanced itself from the alcoholic beverages.

Copious amounts of Castle Lite beer, as well as Black Label, were taken by vigilant police officers during the freak accident which occurred on Friday along the notorious Malagwane Hill.
 A truck fully laden with the two brands of alcoholic products from Westville in South Africa headed for SB in Matsapha, overturned while negotiating its way down the treacherous hill.
Director of Corporate Affairs at Swaziland Beverages Mphumelelo Makhubu confirmed the fact that the truck which overturned on Friday was destined to their plant at Matsapha.

“However, we cannot claim ownership of the stock currently in the custody of the police as we had not yet received ownership of the beer,” he said in an interview yesterday.
Makhubu said the truck had been rented by the supplier and ownership of the product would have been transferred to SB had the truck reached their yard. “It wasn’t ours yet.”

Makhubu refused to divulge the worth of the consignment that had been ordered from the South African company by his organisation.
Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Khulani Mamba had revealed to our sister publication the Times SUNDAY that police officers, who confiscated over 50 six-packs of the  stock at the accident scene from looters on Friday, had kept the consignment at the Mbabane Police Station for safekeeping.

He said that the stock would be handed over to SB once investigations were completed.
When informed of Swaziland Beverages’ stance, Superintendent Mamba said that while the police could not go into the politics of who exactly was the owner of the beer, they had a mandate to keep it safe.
“The owner of the beer will approach the police to claim ownership, so we are not worried.”

 Mamba mentioned that he had received information to the effect that the driver of the truck had been to the police station to identify the confiscated liquor and to take stock of how much had been saved.
He said as far as the police service was concerned, the beer was kept as exhibits and would be treated as such by all those in the station.
 “It is our duty to keep all exhibits safe.”

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