Govt to inspect, audit spaza shops amid health concerns
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says various government departments will embark on a joint operation to inspect and audit spaza shops.
Ntshavheni on Monday briefed the media on last week’s cabinet meeting.
The death of four children in Soweto and the West Rand has triggered a crackdown on informal spaza shops in the townships by law enforcement authorities.
The children allegedly died from food poisoning after buying snacks from local spaza shops.
While police are still investigating the cause of all four deaths, the incident has led to a call for the government to bring back food inspectors and close spaza shops owned by immigrants.
Ntshavheni said the Department of Home Affairs held an international migration workshop with traditional leaders and mayors from metro and district municipalities.
Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Thembi Nkadimeng, hosted the workshop.
"Key outcomes include the introduction of omnibus by-laws to address challenges relating to the enforcement of business by-laws by municipalities and traditional authorities.
“There will be immediate joint inspections of businesses, in particular spaza shops, by the Departments of Labour, Health, Small Business Development, and the Home Affairs immigration inspectorate teams to enforce compliance with applicable laws.
“An audit of spaza shops in villages and townships and mechanisms to register them by both traditional leaders and municipalities will be undertaken.
“There are also efforts to support traditional authorities to keep a record of foreign nationals in their communities. Business licensing legislation is being amended to support all those who wish to trade in the informal sector," she said.
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