Watch | Anti-booze orator drops a blooper

The decision to ask a man to testify on the dangers of a potent, illegal alcohol backfired spectacularly when the man in question instead declared that consuming booze was the only way he could get a decent night’s sleep.

A video of the incident at an Eastern Cape Liquor Board roadshow in September has now surfaced on the internet — and viewers love it.

In a shortened version of the video, filmed at the liquor board’s event in Middelburg, a feisty Duva Njova Voko says sobriety wreaked havoc with his sleep.

Voko appears to struggle with holding the microphone as his body trembles like a leaf.

The crowd in the video erupts laughing when Voko boldly tells them his problem with not drinking was that he had “dreamless” sleeps.

The event was held in Lusaka township which, according to the liquor board, has one of the highest number of people addicted to a “lethal and illegal” alcohol concoction known as Mbamba.

Asked about the ingredients of the drink, liquor board spokesperson Mgwebi Msiya said though it had not been scientifically proven, urban legend had it that the ingredients included yeast, battery acid, steel wool and, to add flavour, an old shoe.

Msiya said Voko was given a microphone to call on people to stop drinking Mbamba. Instead, Voko said exactly the opposite — much to the embarrassment of officials.

A visibly embarrassed ANC councillor Vuyisile Bene, who appears in the video in his capacity as programme director, can be seen snatching the microphone from Voko.

Msiya said the board hosted the event at the Middelburg township after a television show exposed the abuse of Mbamba.

“We shut down an illegal brewery and destroyed more than 2,000 litres of alcohol. It is saddening that despite our efforts, the area remains a hotspot for this concoction, which poses serious health risks.”

Msiya said the community had clashed with police over the destruction of the alcohol. Despite a heavy police presence, officials had to flee from an angry mob.

“The people of that community were not happy that we destroyed the alcohol and chased us. Police vans were stoned.”

Bene said Voko was not the only person who had opposed the call for Mbamba to be eradicated.

“There were a lot of people who stood up and said they were OK with drinking the booze. I gave people two minutes each to respond,” he said.

Msiya said the woman who brewed and sold the concoction could not be found during a raid because she had allegedly been tipped off.

“She was not home when we arrived with the police and her house was locked. The police broke into backyard cottages and uncovered the alcohol. The rooms were used as labs to brew the concoction.”

Msiya said the brewing queen was the main supplier for a dozen outlets selling the concoction.

He said: “The people of that community are dying like flies from this poisonous drink. The reality is that the community has a serious problem of alcohol abuse.”

Msiya said people were attracted to it mostly because it was affordable.

“A litre costs R2 so with R10 people get seriously drunk.”

The Dispatch made several attempts to contact Voko, but could not find him for an interview.

Community members, the ANC and the liquor board, who assisted in the search, also drew a blank.