Authorities shut down non-compliant Brakpan spaza shops during raid
Ten shops were inspected, along with a truck transporting bread, and several fines were issued and items confiscated.
The Brakpan SAPS, the EMPD, the CPF and the Ekurhuleni Health Department inspected local spaza shops on October 21.
The parade beforehand was held on the Brakpan SAPS premises and led by Captain Nape Magane.
The proactive strategy intends to tackle non-compliance and prevent severe circumstances – such as sudden illness or death of community members, especially children, who buy food from these shops.
The SAPS is aware of the current national statistics regarding poisonous foods sold in spaza shops and supermarkets, which have resulted in bad health and, in some cases, the death of children.
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The health department had no mercy for the business owners who did not comply with business registration, cleanliness and expired or rotten food.
The entities investigated 10, closing seven. They removed expired, unlabeled and rotten food from the shelves and tossed it into the municipal waste truck.
They stopped a truck transporting bread and inspected it, with health inspectors discovering it was filthy.
It was also unmarked, and the inspectors confiscated all the bread, issued two penalties and summoned the bakery owner to their office on top of issuing a certificate of destruction.
Sector One manager and SAPS communications officer Constable Audrey Buthelezi, who led the campaign, said from what they saw in the shops, filth is the biggest problem.
He appeals to the public to stop supporting shops that do not comply, especially with the health regulations. The SAPS will continue with similar operations until business owners comply with the law.
Community members are encouraged to report non-compliance at spaza shops and supermarkets, especially rotten food and filth.
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