Media Release: Joint Operation conducted at Spaza shops

For immediate release
09 September 2026

A team of Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) from Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), in conjunction with Hessequa Municipality’s Law Enforcement and Fire Services, as well as the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Albertinia, recently conducted a joint blitz operation inspecting spaza shops in the Albertinia area.

A total of twenty-two (22) spaza shops were visited during the operation.

The Blitz Operation Team inspecting shops in the Albertinia area.

Municipal Health Services

Municipal Health Services team focused on raising awareness regarding regulatory requirements and the importance of maintaining high hygiene standards to safeguard public health.

Areas of focus included:

• Compliance with Regulation 638;
• Adherence to Labelling Regulation 146, including requirements relating to “best before,” “sell by,” and “use by” dates; and
• Promoting good hygiene practices and compliance with applicable food-safety requirements.

Municipal Law Enforcement Services

Hessequa Municipality’s Municipal Law Enforcement Services focused on:

• Ensuring that spaza shops were registered with Hessequa Municipality and had valid consent uses and trading permits;
• Ensuring that spaza shops operated within the requirements of applicable legislation and municipal by-laws; and
• Ensuring that the operation of spaza shops did not create public-safety concerns.

Fire Services

Hessequa Municipality’s Fire Services focused on:

• Identifying illegal and exposed electrical wiring;
• Ensuring the safe storage of combustible liquids and gas cylinders;
• Ensuring that basic fire-fighting equipment was available and serviced regularly; and
• Ensuring that appropriate fire-safety signage was displayed on site.

SAPS Albertinia

SAPS Albertinia focused on:

• Identifying and addressing the sale of counterfeit goods, with such goods being confiscated where necessary; and
• Maintaining a safe and secure environment throughout the duration of the operation.

The GRDM team hereby extends words of gratitude to members of the public for their support in lodging complaints. The information assisted the GRDM and its law-enforcement partners in identifying, investigating and addressing areas of concern within affected communities.

GRDM remains committed to working collaboratively with its law-enforcement and regulatory partners to promote compliance, public safety, food safety and healthy communities.

These teams are grateful for the continued support and collaboration from these departments during blitz operations.

ENDS