Rabie Ridge police clamp down on 14 non-complying spaza shops

Thirty-three foreign-owned spaza shops in Rabie Ridge, Mayibuye and Kanana were inspected for valid trading permits.

Ward 80 councillor Melody Hlatshwayo joined Rabie Ridge police, Crime Prevention Wardens, Environmental Health inspectors and members of the CPF to conduct the inspections on October 25.

This follows the death of two Soweto children earlier this month who died from alleged food poisoning after eating biscuits bought from a foreign-owned spaza shop. It is not yet clear if the biscuits were expired or illegally manufactured.
Gauteng Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the cause of death of the two children was unknown and were awaiting the postmortem results.
Fourteen of these shops were closed down for not having valid trading permits and 17 fines were issued for non-compliance. “We have now only allowed those who comply to operate, but if they do not have permits, we close those shops down until they have operation permits. Community members were angry because they wanted them to leave Rabie Ridge Extension 4 and 5,” said Hlatshwayo.

She added after the operation, officials of Environmental Health held a workshop for community leaders so they could guide these spaza shop owners on the correct procedures to be followed regarding health and compliance issues.

Ekurhuleni police district corporate communications officer, Captain Neldah Sekgobela said, “We decided to be proactive. It was a very fruitful operation and 33 shops were inspected. We have not arrested anyone so far for non-compliance.”

Asked if they would conduct these kinds of operations regularly Sekgobela replied, “Yes, with the assistance from health inspectors we should have more operations.”

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