Law enforcers, city departments unite to clean up Brakpan spaza trade
Authorities conducted a coordinated raid on spaza shops in the Mgongo informal settlement, seizing non-compliant goods and issuing a strong warning to local traders.
Brakpan police formed part of an operation hosted by the Ekurhuleni Environmental Health Department on July 30 aimed at checking compliance at local spaza shops.
Parade was conducted at the Brakpan Customer Care Centre by Brakpan SAPS Vispol support head Lieutenant Colonel Pearl van Staad and attended by Brakpan SAPS members, SAPS Ekurhuleni District POPS, the EMPD by-laws unit, Department of Home Affairs, environmental health department, city planning, waste department, energy department, Crime Prevention Wardens, and Siyabangena patrollers.
“The multi-disciplinary teams were part of the planning meetings held previously with the aim of finding permanent solutions to putting a stop to the lawlessness in food-related and the supermarket industry,” said Brakpan SAPS Sector 1 manager and communications officer Constable Audrey Buthelezi.
“The relevant stakeholders formed part of the operation to ensure that they stamp authority and send out a strong message to entrepreneurs across the precinct.”
According to Buthelezi, spaza shops in the Mgongo informal settlement (Location Road) were raided.
“Shelves were emptied, electricity connections were cut off, and empty containers closed. All confiscated items were destroyed in public view inside the waste truck.
“Owners of the spaza shops were briefed by relevant departments on why an operation of this kind was taking place. They were further reminded on the number of times they were previously visited for compliance, where they received verbal and written warnings from the Environmental Health Department, but chose to ignore it all,” she continued.
The teams then proceeded to the Weltevreden Landfill Site after the operation to ensure all items were properly destroyed.
“SAPS District POPS, Brakpan SAPS members and the EMPD ensured the safety of the stakeholders as they off-loaded and waited until destruction was completed,” added Buthelezi.
The stakeholders confirmed that further operations of this calibre are in the pipeline, and that compliance will be enforced within the Brakpan jurisdiction. Van Staad thanked all involved, and encouraged unity and support among the stakeholders.
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