The City of Ekurhuleni’s executive mayor, Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, led a mayoral by-law enforcement blitz in Thembisa, focusing on the Phomolong and Mayibuye areas.

The operation forms part of the city’s response to concerns around undocumented migration, illegal business activities and by-law transgressions.

Accompanied by city officials and members of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), Xhakaza began the operation at the Phomolong Pay Point before proceeding to various businesses in the area.

One of the establishments inspected was Maluleka Supermarket, which was shut down due to non-compliance with municipal requirements.

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The operation then moved to Nkosi Supermarket in Mayibuye, which is operated by Bangladeshi nationals. While the business was found to be compliant, one employee was arrested for allegedly failing to produce the required documentation.

Inspectors also visited a KFC outlet in Mayibuye, where compliance issues were identified, resulting in the temporary closure of the restaurant.

“The message is simple: we want everybody to comply,” said Xhakaza.

“Street traders need to comply with the laws that regulate their businesses and trade in designated areas rather than on pavements. We issue licences that not only regulate trading activities but also contribute to the safety of traders and the public. This helps ensure that law enforcement knows who is operating in specific areas and assists in preventing the sale of contaminated food products.

“This applies equally to established businesses. As you can see, we have closed KFC because there are compliance issues that need to be addressed,” he said.

Xhakaza said the city has improved its ability to identify fraudulent documentation and ensure accurate reporting.

“We now have a fair understanding of what to look for when conducting compliance inspections in order to avoid being misled by forged documents. We are required to submit reports to the provincial government, so accuracy is important. That is why members of the media have been invited to document the process and findings.

“Asylum seekers are permitted to live and conduct business in South Africa, but many do not have the necessary documentation. We have also encountered businesses selling contaminated food products during similar operations across the city.”

The mayor added that the city wants more South Africans to benefit from available trading permits and support programmes, including a R500 million fund aimed at business development.

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“We want South Africans to occupy these trading spaces and take advantage of the support available. However, one of the challenges we face is that some permit holders sublet or rent their trading opportunities to foreign nationals instead of operating the businesses themselves,” he said.

Regarding the closure of the Mayibuye KFC, officials indicated that the issue related to licensing and compliance renewals. According to the city, the business had submitted incorrect documentation during the renewal process and failed to follow up on the matter.

Officials said the temporary closure was intended to encourage the business to address the outstanding compliance requirements before the situation escalated further.

During the operation, three foreign nationals were profiled and processed by the EMPD. One individual at Nkosi Supermarket was arrested for allegedly lacking the required documentation, while two others, including a street trader operating on a pavement, were processed for permit and work permit-related violations.