80 taverns closed down in Soweto

Johannesburg - Police closed down eighty taverns and shebeens across Soweto over the weekend for operating without permits, Gauteng police said on Sunday.

"The eighty owners were arrested and charged. Police also confiscated all the alcohol at these establishments," said Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela.

The crime swoop was conducted by female police officers as part of the August Women's Month operations, said Makhubela.

The tavern owners would appear at various courts in Soweto soon on charges of operating illegal liquor outlets.