Major safety operation launched: Spaza shops targeted
Three people were arrested following the multi-stakeholder operation.
The Gauteng Department of Community Safety recently took the streets to approach several spaza shops in the West Rand.
This follows recent reports of spaza shops allegedly selling expired and counterfeit products that caused health issues and death among children.
Gauteng Traffic Wardens and patrollers joined members of the police, immigration and health officials, and Merafong Traffic for a joint operation targeting spaza shops to ensure compliance. During the operation, three people were arrested on charges including forgery, selling contaminated food items, and contravening the Immigration Act.
The joint operation was held in various parts of the West Rand district including areas such as Roodepoort, Krugersdorp and Randfontein.
According to the police’s provincial spokesperson, Dimakatso Sello, the operation was part of Operation Shanela and consists of regular stop and searches, roadblocks, vehicle checkpoints, high visibility patrols including foot patrols, the tracing of wanted suspects with a focus on murder and rape suspects, compliance inspections at liquor outlets and secondhand goods dealers.
The launch was led by the Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele and the Deputy Minister of Police, Cassel Mathale.
