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The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), in coordination with various law enforcement agencies and the South African Police Service (SAPS), has been actively conducting Blitz Operations and health education campaigns aimed at ensuring food safety and public health in communities across the region.
From Mossel Bay to Heidelberg, Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) embarked on unscheduled inspections of spaza shops. In Mossel Bay, on November 12, 2024, a total of five spaza shops were inspected. The operation led to the confiscation of compromised food items due to issues such as improper labeling, freezer burn, expiration, and tampering of best-before dates. Three shop owners also received court notices for operating without valid business licenses.
The next day, in Bongolethu, Oudtshoorn, EHPs targeted six spaza shops but found two closed. Among the inspected premises, one shop was temporarily shut down owing to severe hygiene lapses, awaiting a follow-up inspection. Actions in this region also included checks conducted by immigration officials, evidencing the multi-faceted approach to these operations.
Notably, in Hessequa, the campaign was accompanied by Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard, illustrating oversight from elected representatives. Rotting food products, damaged goods, and products approaching or past their use-by dates were seized and disposed of at local landfill sites under strict supervision. These actions reflect a proactive response to recent fatal incidents linked to unsafe food consumption from spaza shops.
Recognizing the need for continuous education, GRDM EHPs from the Outeniqua (George) region took to the streets of the Parkdene community with a door-to-door health and hygiene awareness campaign. They disseminated vital information on sanitation, waste management, and handwashing practices, crucial to thwarting disease spread.
The GRDM encourages the public to remain alert when buying food items, carefully checking date markings to ensure products are safe for consumption. It also advocates for the immediate reporting of any dubious food to the SAPS or GRDM Municipal Health Services.
These recent initiatives highlight the commitment of the local authorities to improving food safety standards, protecting consumers from health risks associated with non-compliant food products, and strengthening community awareness and empowerment in the Garden Route area.