Wynberg compliance operation closes butchery after they ignored warnings from last year
The Wynberg butchery, closed after officials found expired products, faulty fire equipment, and dogs illegally kept on site, had already been warned for non-compliance last year.
A butchery in the Wynberg precinct has been shut down after proving it learned nothing from last year’s leniency.
The butchery, which was served with a certificate of non-compliance and closure during the city’s operation in Wynberg on January 14, was previously warned in 2025 during the city’s Wynberg enforcement operation about keeping products unsuitable for consumption on the shelves.
Back then, regional director Makgafela Thaba flagged unsuitable stock on shelves, including products lacking expiry dates, such as canned foods, and perishable items. He gave the owner time to fix the issues and ensure compliance. However, Wednesday’s inspection showed zero improvement – and worse.
Read more: MMC urges officials to sustain service delivery efforts in Wynberg
The butchery still had fish products past their sell-by dates, repeating the exact problems from last year. These, according to Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero, were seized and confiscated.
Other issues, not flagged in last year’s operation, were also uncovered, compounding the butchery’s list of violations.
In a brief statement shared on social media, Morero said the butchery was also in violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, citing the store’s failure to regularly service fire extinguishers.
Thaba also noted that the butchery’s fire hose reels did not work. “They must go and service their hose reels. There is no water coming out of that item. When they do their braai here, utilising gas – a highly inflammable substance – they will not be able to put out any form of fire, which means our people are also in danger.”
Additionally, Morero said that dogs were illegally kept on the premises without identification tags or valid veterinary certificates. The SPCA stepped in to impound them. “Due to the severity of these violations, immediate enforcement action was taken to safeguard public health, workplace safety, and animal welfare,” Morero’s statement read.
The operation extended beyond the butchery. According to Thaba, two additional facilities were closed, one masquerading as an internet café, but housing a gambling setup inside. “We found one operating as an internet café on the outside, but when you get inside, uncles, brothers, and grandmothers are gambling.” He said it was shut for fire safety and building regulation breaches.
Furthermore, a suspected brothel, which was raided last year, received necessary notices from Emergency Management Services officials.
“This is a start of many that are going to follow, and we are saying, compliance in Alex and in Region E as a whole is non-negotiable.”
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates!
