Magister Administrationis - MAdmin / The Western Cape Liquor Act of 2008 was implemented to decrease the amount of shebeens operating in South Africa’s residential areas. This action was taken in order to reduce liquor harm which has been widely reported on by health professionals. However shebeens serve as a livelihood source for poor South Africans. Thus a possible tension could exist since shebeen owners and communities might become disgruntled with politicians, political parties and government for implementing a law which threatens livelihoods. This thesis paper examines the political perceptions of the people of Atlantis towards political parties in light of the implementation of the Western Cape Liquor Act of 2008. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with key role players residing in Atlantis, and focus groups were also held with shebeen owners. This was done in order to determine the community’s attitude towards shebeens, liquor, politicians, political parties, government and the Liquor Act. Respondents reported that the community remains underdeveloped and that their views are ignored by politicians and other public officials. Shebeens are viewed as a necessary evil since there is a stigma attached to selling liquor and many respondents believe that liquor abuse is the cause of many socio economic problems facing Atlantis. However there are no other viable job opportunities in the area forcing shebeen proprietors and the community to accept shebeens. Interestingly this thesis also shows that both the key role players and shebeen owners have a similar attitude towards shebeens and politicians; as both groups have adopted an ambivalent attitude towards shebeens and politicians. Bayat (2000) Chatterjee’s (2004) writings will be used to show that informality has become the only viable option in Atlantis. This is because the state has not been able to provide alternative employment in the area. The residents therefore now break the law in order to survive. Moreover politics and politicians are disliked but residents still partake in politics .There is therefore an ambivalence towards both politics and shebeens in the area. In conclusion the people of Atlantis feel marginalized and oppressed by those who wield political power. The Western Cape Liquor Act however, has not had a dramatic impact as will be shown when comparing Bayat’s (2000) quiet encroachment of the ordinary theory to the case.

The thesis deals with the difficulties concerning alcohol use and misuse among Coloured farm workers within the heart of the wine industry in South Africa. The current extent of alcohol use and misuse in the rural areas of the Western Cape Province is commonly referred to as the legacy of the dop system. The dop system was a legislative practice whereas farm workers were provided with small portions of cheap wine throughout the workday. The practice was racially targeted towards Coloureds and thus contributed to the creation of a dependent labour force and extensive alcohol-related difficulties among Coloured farm workers. The dop system was formally abolished in 1961 but the practice proceeded into the 1990s. Alcohol related difficulties do however tend to continue without signs of change. The main purpose of the study is to investigate how current difficulties of alcohol use and misuse affect children’s life outcome and educational opportunities. It has also been important to investigate various aspects of living and working conditions in the farm villages that may be linked to alcohol issues. Another aim is to determine contributing factors to the continuance of alcohol use and misuse despite the abolition of the dop system. The work has been conducted according to the method of oral history theories in order to provide a bottom up approach, thus allowing the perspectives and the stories of the farm workers themselves to come forth. Coloured farm workers in the region are largely affected by socio-economic concerns and uncertainty in regards of labour. Inexpensive and readily available alcohol in illegal liquor outlets, so-called shebeens, is a driving force to the consumption of alcohol. Farm workers are partly isolated upon the farm villages and commonly have limited opportunities of unionizing. This makes it crucial to let the farm workers and their families express how alcohol difficulties are manifested in and affecting their daily lives.