MEC MATIBE DRAWS LINE IN THE SAND FOR SPAZA SHOP OPERATORS SELLING HARMFUL PRODUCTS
Limpopo MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Tshitereke Matibe, together with a multidisciplinary team visited various Spaza Shops in Rooiberg under the Waterberg district following the disturbing surge of food poisoning cases at schools and communities in Limpopo.
MEC Matibe’s visit, accompanied by officials of the Thabazimbi Local Municipality, Waterberg District Municipality, Home Affairs, South African Police Service, Consumer Affairs, Business Regulations and Liquor Affairs, comes after the Special Limpopo Executive Council Meeting recently held to speedily addressing this growing concern.
The raid visited 15 Spaza Shops and discovered that 13 of the businesses were breaking the law by operating without required documentation as well as selling of expired, damaged and contaminated products.
MEC Matibe says this is only the beginning of the clamping down of such businesses. “While we are for the growth of the local economy, we will not tolerate a situation where this is done at the expense of the lives of our children,” he says.
In his interactions with traders in Rooiberg, the MEC made it clear that traders in the provincial borders must trade line with provincial laws and regulations.
Adding that he is confident that the sector can contribute positively to local economies as well as inject the much needed job opportunities while preserving the lives of children.
“We have every intention to work collaboratively with our citizens as well as all those documented to operate businesses or spaza shops within the sector. Starting with Thabazimbi, I have requestedthat all raided business operators who were found without permits be assisted by the Municipality, on site, to register their businesses. As government, we have a role to play in correcting the current abnormalities facing our spaza shops,” says MEC Matibe.
The MEC has conveyed his gratitude to the multidisciplinary team, including Home Affairs, who play a vital role during these raids by deporting undocumented foreign nationals.
The MEC calls on local businesses to attain operating permits for the businesses in order to operate legally, while equally advising citizens to purchase only registered products, and most importantly those that are locally produced.
