By Doreen Mokgolo
Local spaza shop owners in Naledi, Soweto, claim the government treats them more harshly for not complying with health regulations than foreign-owned shops.
Scrolla.Africa spoke to several spaza shop owners last week when they approached Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to raise their concerns that they were being treated unfairly.
The owners said the local shops are treated more harshly by inspectors.
They said they must have compliance certificates, meet cleanliness standards, and pay an R800 trading licence, which they claim foreign spaza shops do not.
Their complaints were raised during a recent inspection following the deaths of six children from food poisoning in the area.
Tuckshop owner Nomthandazo Zwane said that many foreign-owned shops inspected by the authorities were not following the rules.
“They have expired food, rotten meat, and no trading licences, yet they still sell to customers,” she said.
“Inspectors come to our stores every three months. If we fail, we get fined or shut down, but foreign shops stay open even though they don’t comply.”
Zwane added that foreign spaza shops don’t pay the annual trading fee.
“I refuse to pay until the government ensures all shops follow the same rules,” she said.
Gauteng legislature member Nazley Sharif of the DA said inspections revealed that many shops had never been checked for health and safety standards.
“The lack of inspections shows that the City of Johannesburg is failing to enforce by-laws and protect people,” she said.
Johannesburg’s MMC for Health and Social Development, Ennie Makhafola, said the authorities had conducted quarterly checks of spaza shops across Soweto since last year.
“We work with the Department of Public Safety and environmental health practitioners to ensure compliance,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Gauteng health department sent 80 inspectors on Monday to check spaza shops in Naledi.
Six children got food poisoning and died earlier this month after eating “brown dash” snacks bought at a foreign-owned spaza shop in the township.
Pictured above: Shop owners protesting.
Source: Doreen Mokgolo
