MAHIKENG MAIL - MAHIKENG: It is important for the public and residents to protect themselves from what they purchase and what they consume from local spaza shops in their area.
Mahikeng Local Municipality’s multidisciplinary operation continues to yield success by enforcing the by-laws on spaza shops to comply with food handling and health safety measures.
This initiative follows widespread concerns on food safety after, in the past month, children have been killed in various provinces across the country. The importance of food safety is about handling, preparing, and storing food correctly to reduce the risk of consumers becoming sick from food borne diseases.
In other words, food safety practices will ensure that the food being processed by the SMME will not be contaminated.
Many spaza shops owners have ignored instructions and did not meet the standard of food handling, calling for a complete shutdown until they have met the standard compliance to operate spaza shops in South Africa. Mahikeng Local Municipality advised all businesses to prioritise adherence to compliance requirements to prevent potential closure. All businesses that have received notices are encouraged to visit their respective by-law offices before their notices expire.
The multidisciplinary operation ensured effective oversight on compliance:
•Mahikeng Local Municipality – Solid Waste Management Unit, which is tasked with managing solid waste.
•Mahikeng Local Municipality – LED and Business Licensing Unit, which is responsible for issuing business licenses, ensuring that all spaza shops and food handling businesses are properly registered, and supporting local economic development initiatives.
•Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipal Health Services – Environmental Health Practitioners who are responsible for conducting health inspections and ensuring compliance with hygiene regulations.
•South African Police Service (SAPS) which provides law enforcement support to ensure compliance and address any criminal activities related to non-compliance.
