Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
14 November 2024 | 14:52 CAT

A man looks at an item before buying at a spaza shop in Thembisa, on the East Rand, in South Africa, August 2, 2023. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File photo

The City of Johannesburg has intensified efforts to enforce health and safety compliance in spaza shops across Soweto, targeting food safety and legal documentation amid rising safety concerns. On a recent inspection, City of Johannesburg Council Speaker Nobuhle Mthembu led a team of health inspectors and law enforcement officers to evaluate conditions in various spaza shops, uncovering widespread non-compliance.

“Safety standards were definitely not met,” Mthembu told Radio Islam International, highlighting the critical issues found during inspections. Numerous shops were stocked with expired goods, and in many cases, operators lacked legal documentation to own or run their businesses. “At the first store, we had to close it down due to the owner’s lack of proper documentation,” she explained, voicing concerns about follow-up actions to ensure lasting compliance.

A significant shortfall in health inspectors compounds the problem. Officials face logistical hurdles with only 33 inspectors in the expansive Region T. “Region T is so vast we had to divide it into T1 and T2,” noted Mthembu, underscoring the need for additional resources. She acknowledged that recruiting and training more inspectors would require significant funding and time, emphasizing, “By the time new inspectors are trained and salaried, our inspection budget will effectively double.”

To mitigate these challenges in the short term, the city is engaging the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) for support. “We’re in talks with SAPS, JMPD, and even considering Amapanyaza to address these pressing issues,” Mthembu confirmed.

Shop owners’ responses varied, with some visibly anxious. A disturbing incident involved a 16-year-old undocumented boy operating one of the stores. His claimed guardian was called, raising suspicions of possible human trafficking.

The complexity of balancing compliance with economic needs looms large. Mthembu called for a comprehensive township economic plan, remarking, “Township economies can’t solely rely on informal trading; we need sustainable solutions.” However, no concrete plan has yet emerged from the economic development department.

The City of Johannesburg is now under pressure to deliver an effective action plan to address the health, legal, and economic challenges that spaza shop operators and surrounding communities face.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round Up with Mulana Junaid Kharsany and Cllr Nobuhle Mthembu here.