Police, Public Safety zone in on illicit goods trade

Mogale City Local Municipality together with law enforcement agencies conducted an operation in August targeting businesses selling illicit products in the CBD, aiming to improve safety and awareness.

The businesses targeted were mainly liquor and convenience stores in the CBD, as confirmed by Ward 20 councillor Mark Trump.

”It was first brought to my attention by a social worker from Mogale City. I was informed by the West Rand Health officials at Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital, regarding an increase in patients being admitted, suffering from issues brought on by consuming illicit alcohol from various stores,” Trump said.

Trump confirmed that Mogale City Public Safety has committed to assisting with the relevant departments, such as West Rand Health inspectors to identify the sellers and act accordingly with police.

In addition to illicit alcohol causing health problems, food poisoning in town has also been an issue as the police also found expired food products being sold and others being invalid as they did not have any barcodes. This was confirmed by the Gauteng Health Department’s head of communication, Motalatale Modiba, who stated it is mainly children who are affected, not only in the West Rand but also in other Gauteng districts as well.

A total of 207 food poisoning cases affecting children have been reported across the province since the beginning of February which unfortunately resulted in 10 deaths. Ekurhuleni district recorded 119 cases with four deaths, followed by Johannesburg with 40 cases, Tshwane had 31 cases resulting in three deaths, West Rand district had 14 cases and Sedibeng district had three cases and three deaths.

“The department is deeply concerned with the rising incidents of the deaths of children related to foodborne illnesses. We are working closely with multiple stakeholders and the Gauteng Department of Education to heighten awareness in communities and conduct health education sessions in schools targeting learners, school vendors and shops. These sessions focus on the importance of hand hygiene, proper food handling and preparation, water hygiene, clean environments, sanitation and food expiry dates, among other topics,” said Modiba.

Modiba also added that environmental health teams working with local municipalities continue to conduct inspections in communities and encourage small business operators in townships, informal settlements and hostel communities to apply for compliance certificates and to ensure that they have proper zoning certificates. Non-compliant vendors identified during the inspections are issued with fines and prohibition notices, some of them are closed by the local authorities.

At the end of the operation, Krugersdorp Police Station Commander Brigadier Happy Xaba confirmed that over R15 000 worth of illicit products were confiscated and that warnings and fines were issued to the various outlets that had been selling these products.