Liquor Portfolio Update - August 2025
We continue to face noise issues at Blanco as well as issues around their licence. We have engaged 1st Avenue residents with a plan going forward and should you wish to join in, mra-liquor@ilovemelville.co.za is your point of contact.
There are two hearings scheduled for September:
Agterplaas Restaurant Licence application.
As noted at the AGM, while Agterplaas is a well-known and well-loved Guest House in Melville, having been here for decades, the issue with the application revolves around the establishment of Businesses in the residential areas of Melville. The difference between a guest house with limited consent and a restaurant open to the public will change the fabric of 6th Avenue from noise as well as parking issues. There are already guests parking on the street due to insufficient off-street parking provided by Agterplaas and this can only be exacerbated over evenings and weekends by the opening of a Restaurant.
MRA Liquor has engaged with Agterplaas and has noted that there is more than enough space on 7th Street – less than 200 meters from their property – that would welcome a restaurant. Keeping Licenced Liquor premises on the 7th Street/4th Avenue/Main Road precent would enhance Melville’s business area and protect the residential areas.
Smoking Kills postponed S106 Hearing.
This will continue at the end of September and is an important case for Melville given that it deals directly with Economic Interest of a licence – where the licence holder is not operating the licenced premises – as well as licence transfers and their altered business use.
There are far too many businesses operating clubs with restaurant liquor licences, and the lack of enforcement is taken advantage of to avoid having to apply for a more onerous club licence. Club Licences subject the business to Safety requirements, noise requirements, security requirements as well as additional licences from City of Johannesburg. These requirements are in place to protect the patrons of the Club as well as the overall nature of the area where the club is located.
No further information has been provided on the applications from Bidzy24(1) (sic) and that remains in abeyance. An objection was submitted to this application, given it does not comply with the Head Lease of 27 Boxes, which only allows for one liquor licence to be issued for a café.
We have engaged with two outlets on Main Street as to when their licence applications will be submitted and noted our concerns about what would need to be addressed so that these can form part of the application.
Complaints around public drinking at the Main Street Liquor outlet are being addressed – but getting the interest of JMPD is a difficult task – Unfortunately the owner has failed to address the issue.
There have been complaints around a club on Main Road regarding noise and late hours of operation with no control over patrons on the street. This will be addressed with the club management.
MRA-Liquor continues to engage with Liquor Stakeholders (Businesses as well as Regulatory Bodies) to ensure compliance with relevant laws and by-laws and address the issues of Melville Residents when they do arise.
