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The Gauteng Provincial Government, through the Department of Economic Development (GDED), has taken a conscious decision to embark on the O Kae Molao campaign to bring order and stability to township businesses.
This initiative is informed by provincial government’s concerns as a result of the latest wildcat attacks and looting of shops owned by foreign nationals in Soweto and elsewhere in the province.
A number of shops owned by foreign nationals were targeted and looted by certain rotten elements in Soweto and some other areas.
This saw a number of our people taking the law into their own hands.
The provincial government salutes the role played by law enforcement officials for acting decisively and restoring order.
This brought some level of stability and order in all the affected areas.
The police have been mandated to investigate the circumstances or underlying reasons that triggered the attacks and looting.
The main source of the targeting and looting of the shops was due to allegations that some of the shops were involved in selling fake products and goods at cheaper prices.
Given the economic and financial hardship of people, they are vulnerable and buy such goods and products.
There has been a growing number of fake goods being sold in most shops in townships around the province.
The provincial government stated these goods and products will no longer have space or a market in townships.
Provincial government is working closely with all relevant law enforcement agencies and entities tasked with the necessary responsibilities.
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The O Kae Moloa campaign will deal with the selling of illegal and fake goods/products in all spaza shops across the province.
The campaign will start on September 18.
Officials will be embarking on unannounced visits to many spaza shops across the length and breadth of the province.
Already, the Gauteng Government has dispatched a team to monitor and intervene where necessary.
Pilot operations were undertaken in Ekurhuleni from August 30.
The executive mayor of Ekurhuleni, Clr Mzwandile Masina, led a joint operation of SAPS, EMPD, Home Affairs, health, and city planning officials into the communities of Reiger Park, Tembisa and Tokoza. Over the three-day operation, 51 spaza shops where inspected, 37 shops were closed down for further investigation, over 25 undocumented immigrants were detained, and over eight tons of suspicious goods were seized and sent to health laboratories for testing.
The metro will also investigate how it can begin to collaborate with communities in the monitoring and enforcing of by-laws in the metro.
Masina has also deployed his 10 MMCs, along with EMPD officers and health inspectors, to visit communities twice a week in a continued effort to clamp down on unlawful business practices.
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