The rise in spaza shops, often occupied by illegal immigrants selling expired and food products, has forced Gauteng MEC of Economic Development Lebogang Maile to introduce a campaign, “Qondisa Ishishini Lakho” (Fix Your Business).
The operation, which began on Thursday, is part of a joint effort between the department, Gauteng Provincial Treasury, City of Ekurhuleni, SAPS, Gauteng Liquor Board, Gauteng Office of Consumer Affairs, Gauteng Gambling Board and relevant government agencies.
Maile and his team said the compliance campaign would continue to monitor issues of health and safety at various spaza shops, hostels and other businesses operating in townships, informal settlements and CBDs.
His first stop was Tembisa, Ekurhuleni, where he monitored the situation.
The blitz also took Maile to Ivory Park and Winnie Mandela and Olifantsfontein townships, among others.
Maile said most of the businesses were closed in the neighbourhoods’ main streets, which suggested that most of them were non-compliant.
However, for shopping centres in the area, it was business as usual and that was where the inspections were focused.
He explained why Tembisa had been the first stop: “Tembisa was chosen because between February and September 2024, 203 cases were reported in Gauteng of foodborne illness (Ekurhuleni accounted for 116 of those), including 10 deaths. Four recent deaths happened in Ekurhuleni, and the victims were children between the ages of 3 and 13.
“As part of our ongoing community outreach and strengthening engagement with learners, the government assigned environmental health officials to address food safety concerns in schools and communities,” he said.
In April, the Gauteng Department of Health reported that it was deeply concerned about the alarming rise in incidents of food poisoning, after more than 41 children between the ages of 3 to 5 years allegedly consumed rat poison and poisonous foods bought from spaza shops.
The department said 17 of the children had been were admitted to Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital for overnight observation, while the remaining 24 had been discharged after the were deemed to be in a satisfactory condition.
MEC Maile said the government was committed to helping emerging businesses access funding and market opportunities, and pledged to soon host a funding symposium with the banks to help compliant and qualifying businesses access funding.
He urged township businesses to consider other options, including cooperative banks and to pool resources together to fund expansion.
“The township economy is worth at least R100 billion but most of that money leaves the township. Businesses need the help of government to change that. We also need to solve of concentration of wealth in the hands of a few. Otherwise the economy will not change,” he said.
Saturday Star