A “samosa” illegal business shut down
It might seem as a quick and easy way to fill the hole in your stomach, but do you know what you are buying to eat?
Street vendors are found all around eMalahleni, selling a variety of goods from car chargers to something to eat.
It might seem as a quick and easy way to fill the hole in your stomach, but do you know what you are buying to eat?
On Wednesday, November 6 members from law enforcement were patrolling around eMalahleni Extention 8 at Watermeyer Street.
While patrolling the area, they spotted an African male carrying buckets filled with samosas.
When approached, it was brought to attention that he didn’t have a hawker’s permit issued by the eMalahleni Local Municipality.
It also came to light that he was from Malawi and he has only been in South Africa for three days without a passport.
According to the suspect he jumped the border illegally.
Investigation with regard to the employer of this Malawian national led them to a house situated in Montgomery Street.
The house was visited by law enforcement and a 41-year-old Malawian national was found with three females from Malawi and three males busy preparing samosas.
The 41-year-old Malawian was also in possession of a fraudulent work permit; the document was confirmed fraudulent from the immigration office in eMalahleni.
All the people found on the premises were employed by the 41-year-old Malawian and one of the three females found was his wife.
All seven suspects were arrested and detained at Witbank Police Station.
Health inspectors were also summoned to the scene to witness the way the samosas was prepared and what was happening there.
Food that is prepared in this manner should not be served to any person.
The neighbours who resides around the suspects premises appreciated the arrests made by law enforcement and some commented that they will rest peacefully in their houses and that they will not be hearing the suspect’s employees knocking at the gate at 05:00 in the morning to collect samosas.
The samosas was collected in the morning and then sold on the streets and corners of eMalahleni.
Lenohang Mofokeng said “They all appeared before the magistrate on Friday, November 8 and all of them are still kept in custody”.
Members involved from law enforcement are: Senior Superintendent Sibongile Mahlangu, Assistant Superintendent Michael Mathenjwa, Assistant Superintendent Nelson Mphoreng, Inspector Venty Nkosi, Constables Michael Skhosana, Samuel Masemola and Nicolas Maila.
