
“Our investigations revealed that there are two men who are targeting business owners and soliciting bribes from them,” said the Mopani District Municipality spokesperson, Witness Tiva. Tiva said the duo, who are driving a white VW Polo Vivo with a Gauteng registration number, issue spot fines with the Department of Health letterheads to unsuspecting business owners.
“In instances where business owners are unable to pay them, they condemn or remove the foodstuffs from their shelves. We are urging business owners to always ask for the identification cards and letter of appointment from the Environmental Health Practitioners who are visiting their food handling premises before they can allow them in to conduct inspections,” said Tiva.
He added that two cases have already been opened with the police in the Greater Letaba municipal area, after two business operators were robbed of their money by these criminals.
Business owners can contact our Director for Community Services Dumuisani Shithlangu on 082 571 2456 who will link them with relevant Environmental Health Practitioners who are designated to operate across the five local municipalities of the district.