A foreign-owned grocery and hardware store in Nquthu was shut down last week after a raid uncovered expired food, poor hygiene and illicit cigarettes.

The raid, conducted by the March and March Nquthu organisation in partnership with government stakeholders and the local municipality, led to the arrest of three Chinese nationals who were found working without valid permits.

Bundles of illicit cigarettes and food products long past their expiry dates were seized. Inspectors said expired bread, sugar, sweets, soap and animal feed were discovered on shelves. Some products dated back to June 2022, while others were marked to expire in August 2026.

Conditions inside the store were described as unhygienic, with food stored near leaking toilets. Workers said they were forced to do plumbing and electrical work themselves, without protective gear, and complained of dusty floors where food was displayed.

In addition to hygiene violations, authorities flagged breaches of municipal bylaws, labour laws, immigration rules and environmental standards.

Shop manager Biqing Ni denied knowledge of the expired stock. “The staff pack them. If I find them, I remove them. I will refund customers who bought them,” he said.

The March and March Nquthu community group welcomed the intervention, saying residents had long raised concerns about unsafe goods and unfair labour practices. “Today, government stakeholders saw proof of our struggle. We are grateful that they took action,” said leader Thandazani Buthelezi.

However, some foreign nationals in the town fear the crackdown could fuel discrimination. Refugee Justine Azizia, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, said she was threatened by marchers at her container shop last month. “It is painful that our own black brothers discriminate against us. I have a disabled child and we are stuck without money or access to healthcare,” she said.

Mayor Lindokuhle Shabalala said expired goods were a common problem in such raids. “They put people’s lives at risk, which is why we encourage citizens to start businesses,” he said, urging community groups to continue their work lawfully.

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