The Erstwhile Community and Business Forum, founded in 2013, has completed its latest round of verification checks on spaza shops in Eden Park.
Despite the term ‘spaza shop’ often associated with substandard goods, local informal traders have shown remarkable compliance.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by local and foreign traders, ensuring zero tolerance for substandard goods, expired products, unhealthy environments and poor housekeeping.
The MOU has protected consumers and fostered a positive relationship between the traders and the community.
Chief Johannes Ralph Goliath, the Erstwhile Community and Business Forum chairperson, recalled the challenges faced in 2013 when foreign-owned shops entered the area, sparking tensions among local traders.
The forum’s establishment provided a platform for engagement, leading to the signing of the MOU.
The latest audit of 39 foreign-owned spaza shops (92% of the total) revealed three shops with expired goods and one with an untidy and smelly sleeping area.
The forum’s auditing team addressed these issues, ensuring prompt corrective action.
Goliath stressed the importance of living harmoniously alongside one another, citing a recent incident when an Ethiopian spaza shop operator was attacked.
The forum remains dedicated to protecting and promoting community and business interests.
Goliath’s leadership extends beyond Eden Park because he serves in various roles, including the Gauteng provincial chairperson in the Griqua Royal House.
Thanks to the forum’s efforts, Eden Park’s spaza shops have made significant strides in compliance.
As the community celebrates this progress, it reaffirms its commitment to social cohesion, peace, and stability.
