Marabastad retail market reopens after compliance shutdown
“Employing a child is a criminal offence. Children must attend school and not be assigned inappropriate work.”
The Marabastad retail market resumed operations on Tuesday, following a closure enforced by the national department of employment and labour.
The department shut the market in Marabastad down on August 8 after inspectors found the fruit and vegetable establishment to be “dirty, unhealthy and hazardous”.
It issued the market with a prohibition notice barring the owners from using the building.
The department said the site lacked firefighting equipment at strategic locations. The site had also been operating with open electrical wires and the electrical installation was non-compliant posing risks of electrocution and fire.
Departmental spokesperson Teboho Thejane said that the market had been shut down because of conditions threatening the health and safety of persons in terms of the occupational health and safety act of 1993.
Thejane said the notice enforcing closure was lifted after inspectors visited the market on Friday.
“The matter was attended to by Gauteng inspectors. On Monday, the inspectors were satisfied that the employer had complied with the critical issues cited in the prohibition notice.”
Tshwane MMC for Economic Development and Spatial Planning, André le Roux, said he was pleased that the department withdrew the restriction notice issued against the market.
“The withdrawal means the Marabastad retail market will resume regular operations this week.”
“My department will continue to address any challenges that the market may experience to ensure that it remains compliant with occupational health and safety legislation and regulations.”
He said the metro would in future closely monitor the market to prevent any possible repeat offences.
The closure had followed a blitz inspection by the department’s national roving team of inspectors after more than 20 suspected workers in the area were arrested for being illegal immigrants.
A child was also discovered working in one of the shops.
“It is appalling and unacceptable, especially given the recent international conference on the elimination of child labour, which was held in South Africa in May; hence, there is an international call to end child labour,” said inspection and enforcement services (IS) branch spokesperson advocate Fikiswa Bede.
Bede said the SAPS had since arrested both the mother and the employer.
“In handling this matter, the department is collaborating with other relevant government departments.”
“Employing a child is a criminal offence under the basic conditions of the employment act. Children must attend school and not be assigned inappropriate work.”
Bede said that the Marabastad area was becoming a high-risk area for non-compliance with labour legislation and needed sustained attention.
She raised concerns that many traders in the area seemed oblivious to compliance issues.
“It is either people here are ignorant of the law or they are just carrying on with their business without regard for the consequences.”
Bede said an immigration operation had to be followed up by inspectors hitting hard against non-compliance.
The department also shut the doors to the Oriental retail complex and other nearby shops trading in muti, among other items, due to failure to comply with occupational health and safety regulations.
The operation was led by the department, assisted by the police and the Department of Home Affairs’ immigration unit.
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