City of Tshwane together with SAPS, Tshwane Metro police and city’s Health Department launched a joint comprehensive operation to enforce food safety regulations in spaza shops.
The operation was held at Temba Hammanskraal on Tuesday.
The operation aim at safeguard public health and ensure the highest standards of food safety.
The operation inspected spaza shops’ compliance with food safety regulations. Trained inspectors from the city’s Environmental Health Section conducted a thorough examination of the premises, including food storage areas, preparation spaces, and hygiene practices, to identify any potential risks or violations.
During the operation, some food items were found to have reached their expiry date and were subsequently confiscated and destroyed.
City of Tshwane acting group head communication, event and marketing Selby Bokaba said Spaza shops, which serve as popular food and grocery outlets in various communities, play a crucial role in providing convenient and affordable food options to residents.
Recognising their significance, the city has joined this initiative, to ensure that these establishments adhere to strict food safety guidelines, in order to protect the health and well-being of unsuspecting consumers.
This operation is also a response to the recent spate of unfortunate incidents involving the alleged consumption of poisonous and expired food in spaza shops, which resulted in the loss of lives in Soweto and other parts of Gauteng.
“The health and well-being of the city’s residents are of utmost importance, and the city is committed to taking immediate action to prevent any further incidents of non-compliance to the food safety guidelines,” Bokaba said.
He said In Tshwane’s quest to curb the contravention of food safety regulations, the city will increase the frequency of working closely with relevant agencies, including law enforcement and food safety experts, to gather all the necessary information and identify any potential lapses in the food supply chain.
The city’s Health Department, in collaboration with regulatory bodies, will conduct rigorous inspections and audits of spaza shops and other food outlets.
“The safety and well-being of the city’s residents remain a top priority and this administration will continue to work tirelessly.
to create a safer and healthier environment for all consumers.
Tshwane recognizes the importance of educating its residents about food safety practices,” he said.
Bokaba concluded that the inspections will focus on ensuring compliance with food safety regulations, proper storage, handling, and disposal of food products, as well as the regular monitoring of expiration dates and other steps to strengthen existing food safety regulations to ensure they are robust and up to date.
This may include stricter penalties for non-compliance and improved monitoring systems to detect expired or contaminated food products.
Residents are encouraged to report any concerns or observations related to food safety in spaza shops to the Municipal Health Services on 012 358 8609/3146/8611.
The cooperation of the community is vital to maintaining the highest standards of food safety.
