Spazas get 21 days to re-register or close their doors

Update

GEORGE NEWS - Spaza shop owners have less than 21 days to re-register their businesses or face closure.

This decision, announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday 15 November, follows the deaths of at least 22 children nationwide after they consumed snacks purchased from spaza shops.

Ramaphosa also stated that spaza shops and street vendors implicated in the children's deaths would be summarily shut down.

In a more recent local incident, nine primary school children from a school in KwaNonqaba, Mossel Bay, were hospitalised on Monday 18 November after sharing packets of chips, allegedly bought from a nearby spaza shop.

According to a statement by the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), the children experienced severe cramps and were rushed to hospital. They have since recovered and been discharged.

GRDM Mayor Andrew Stroebel confirmed in the statement that environ-mental health practitioners (EHPs) from GRDM had already launched an investigation into the incident.

"The chips will be sent to a laboratory and test results will be made public once received back, as part of the standard procedures followed by EHPs," said Stroebel.

Any incidents involving suspected counterfeit or tampered food should be reported to the nearest police station or GRDM's health services. More details are available at www.mosselbayadvertiser.co.za.

Bags of chips dumped

On Tuesday 19 November, bags of chips were found dumped in Rand Street in the George industrial area.

According to George Municipality's senior communications officer, Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe, they received a tip-off about the dumping at about 16:25.

"Shortly thereafter, Law Enforcement officers and SAPS arrived on the scene. During our investigation, we identified a second dumping location," he said.

Children who had started picking up items were asked to leave the area.

"Upon further investigation, it was found that a wholesale located in Rand Street is the responsible party for the dumping. Law Enforcement issued fines for illegal dumping," said Mangqwengqwe.

The wholesale was also operating without a valid business licence and a certificate of acceptability, which are required for food-related businesses. As a result, the premises were instructed to close.

R500m allocated for upgrades

Ramaphosa has also approved R500m to upgrade spaza shops nationwide. This initiative is part of the government's response to foodborne illness outbreaks linked to certain spaza shops and street vendors.

"We support the president's decision, but I hope the 21-day period will be extended so that everyone can register," said Liban Ali, a foreign businessowner and chairperson of the Southern Cape Foreign Business Association (SCFBA) in George.The chips that were found dumped in Rand Street in the George Industria on Tuesday.

Previous operations

Three spaza shops and one restaurant in George were shut down last week due to poor hygiene and a lack of valid documentation.

Incidents have also been reported in Great Brak River, where pills were allegedly found in packets of chips bought from local spaza shops. Last week, on Tuesday 12 November, EHPs, Mossel Bay Municipality law enforcement officers, and local police inspected five spaza shops as part of a joint operation in the Mossel Bay area.

Various items were confiscated, and three warnings were issued to shop owners to appear in court due to the lack of valid business licences.

A similar operation was conducted the following day in Bongolethu, Oudtshoorn. Four of six spaza shops were inspected. Two were closed during the inspection, three were found to be in acceptable condition, and one was temporarily closed due to hygiene concerns.

Several operations were also conducted in the Hessequa region, including Melkhoutfontein and Heidelberg.Members who participated in the operation in Oudtshoorn.
Photo: GRDM