Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to footer

29 November 2024 Media Release: Blitz Operations Continue with More Spaza Shops Visited

Media Release: Blitz Operations Continue with More Spaza Shops Visited

29 November 2023

The Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), through its Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs), continues to prioritise public health and safety by conducting inspections and monitoring food facilities, businesses, and other premises to ensure compliance with health regulations.

This past week, the following interventions took place in the different municipal areas:

Plettenberg Bay Municipal Health Office

Kurland – Plettenberg Bay

An operation in Kurland, Plettenberg Bay, was conducted in collaboration with the GRDM Municipal Health Office of Plettenberg Bay, the South African Police Service (SAPS), and Bitou Municipality Law Enforcement Officers. The operation aimed to ensure compliance with food safety regulations, promote health and hygiene education, and improve food safety standards across 10 spaza shops.

As a result of the intervention:

  • 4 spaza shops were closed due to structural issues,
  • 1 spaza shop was closed due to ownership concerns, and
  • 1 spaza shop was closed due to unhygienic conditions.

Kranshoek – Plettenberg Bay

A joint operation was conducted in Kranshoek, a settlement located approximately 15 kilometres outside Plettenberg Bay, on 18 November 2024. All 14 spaza shops in the area were visited.

Qolweni and Bossiesgif – Plettenberg Bay

Role players conducted a joint operation at spaza shops in the Qolweni and Bossiesgif areas of Plettenberg Bay on Thursday, 21 November 2024.

A total of 14 spaza shops were inspected, with health and hygiene education and training provided. Five shops were closed due to non-compliance.

Kwanokuthula – Plettenberg Bay

A total of 19 spaza shops in Kwanokuthula were inspected. One shop was closed due to non-compliance.

The final blitz operation is scheduled for next week (2-6 December 2024) in Green Valley, New Horizons, and Pine Trees. Bitou Municipality’s Town Planning and Economic Development and Planning commenced the Consent Use Applications in September 2024, allowing spaza shop owners to apply for consent use rights in terms of the Land Use Planning By-Law. All spaza shops in the targeted areas will be surveyed and mapped.

The application process for business licenses is active, with application documents available at Town Planning and the LED office of Bitou Municipality.

Mossel Bay Municipal Health Office

On Tuesday, 26 November 2024, the EHPs from the Mossel Bay office visited two shops in Klein-Brak River. On Wednesday, they continued their operation, inspecting five shops in the Kwanonqaba area and closing two due to noncompliance. On Thursday, four shops were inspected in Great-Brak River.

George Municipal Health Office

On Tuesday, 26 November 2024, the George office (both regions combined) conducted a blitz operation in the industrial area of George, focusing on wholesalers. This operation targeted wholesalers because spaza shops source their stock from these suppliers, and the aim was to ensure the safety of the stock being distributed.

A total of eight shops were visited, and three were closed due to poor hygiene and the absence of a valid Certificate of Acceptability (COA). The Department of Agriculture seized illegal insecticides and insecticides labelled in a foreign language.

Klein-Karoo Municipal Health Office

On Thursday, 28 November 2024, the GRDM Executive Mayor, Andrew Stroebel, and Portfolio Chairperson of Community Services, Cllr Jobieth Hoogbaard, joined the EHPs from the Oudtshoorn Municipal Health Office to conduct inspections of spaza shops in the Dysselsdorp area.

Three shops were inspected, with two having had to be closed immediately, because they did not comply with health and safety standards.

Calitzdorp and Ladismith

On Wednesday, 27 November 2024, the EHP from the Klein Karoo Office conducted a spaza shop inspection in Calitzdorp, covering the Bergsig and Royal Heights areas. Nine shops were inspected. The EHP extended their inspection the following day, Thursday, to Ladismith, where 12 spaza shops were inspected in the Nissenville area.

For the past week, 109 door-to-door educational sessions have been conducted in the Klein Karoo area.

The public is urged to report any incidents of suspected counterfeit or tampered foodstuff. Contact SAPS or reach out directly to the following GRDM EHPs:

Johan Compion – Senior Manager: Municipal Health, Solid Waste Management & Air Quality Control

 Desmond Paulse – Manager: Municipal Health Klein Karoo

 Rinay Cloete – Acting Chief: Municipal Health Mossel Bay

  • E-mail: rinay@gardenroute.gov.za
  • Tel: 044 693 0006 /Cell: 083 630 6108
  • C/O Sampson & Marling Street, Ext 23, Mossel Bay

 Emmy Douglas – Chief: Municipal Health George (Outeniqua)

 Jessica Erasmus – Acting Chief: Municipal Health George (Wilderness)

 James McCarthy – Chief: Municipal Health Knysna (Lakes)

 Gawie Vos – Chief: Municipal Health Bitou (Lakes)

 Haemish Herwels – Chief: Municipal Health Hessequa (Langeberg)

Editors’ note:

Following the directive issued earlier this month by the President of the Republic of South Africa, spaza shops and food-handling facilities were required to register with their respective municipalities within 21 days. This mandate aims to strengthen compliance with health and safety standards.

GRDM EHPs, in collaboration with local municipality Law Enforcement Officers, Waste Management officials, Firefighters, SAPS, the National Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Home Affairs, have been conducting ongoing inspections of both formal and informal food traders across the region.

Operations focus on assessing local spaza shop owners’ adherence to health guidelines, including proper food handling, cleanliness, and safe food storage practices. Additionally, education is provided on maintaining hygienic conditions, managing waste, and preventing foodborne diseases. The overall goal is to ensure safer food practices and ultimately safeguard public health within the community.

-END-