Media Release: GRDM EHPs continue with Spaza Shop Blitz Operations and Food Safety Workshops to prevent foodborne illnesses in the district
For immediate release
6 December 2024
During this week and the latter part of the last week, Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) from the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) conducted a series of spaza shop-focused initiatives to address the outbreak of foodborne illnesses. These efforts aimed to ensure that spaza shops comply with health, safety, and legal regulations.
The compliance operations were carried out in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the South African Police Service (SAPS), Local Municipal representatives, Immigration authorities, and the Department of Home Affairs, among others.
Food safety inspections and workshops were held in several areas across the district, including Bitou, Mossel Bay, the Klein Karoo, Hessequa, George, and Knysna.
Bitou Municipal Area
On 2 December 2024, the GRDM Bitou Municipal Health team inspected four (4) spaza shops in the Wittedrift and Green Valley areas of the Bitou Municipality, focusing on health and safety regulations, hygiene standards, and legal compliance (e.g., COA certificates, permits). One (1) shop was closed due to non-compliance with relevant regulations.
On 3 December 2024, the team conducted inspections in the New Horizons, Pinetrees, and Bossiesgif areas, where a total of 21 spaza shops were inspected. Of these, four (4) shops were closed for failing to comply with health and safety requirements. Notices were issued to non-compliant shops, which included warnings or directives to address violations within a specified timeframe. Additionally, one (1) shop in Bossiesgif received a prohibition notice due to severe non-compliance and was temporarily shut down until specific health and safety concerns are resolved.
In total, twenty-five (25) spaza shops were inspected across the four areas (Wittedrift/Green Valley, New Horizons, Pinetrees, and Bossiesgif). Five (5) shops were closed due to non-compliance – one (1) in Wittedrift/Green Valley, three (3) in New Horizons, and one (1) in Bossiesgif. An additional shop in Bossiesgif was issued a prohibition notice.
Blitz operations conducted GRDM EHPs and stakeholders in the Bitou Municipal area.
Mossel Bay Municipal Area
On 27 November 2024, a Blitz Operation was conducted in the Kwanonqaba area, where five (5) shops were inspected. One (1) shop was temporarily closed, and a prohibition notice was issued to the owner.
On 28 November 2024, another Blitz Operation took place in the Great Brak River area. This operation included inspections of three (3) spaza shops and one (1) formal food premises. No closures were required during this operation.
Continuing efforts to enhance food safety, GRDM EHPs conducted Joint Informal Food Traders Workshops in several communities. On 3 December 2024, workshops were held in the Herbertsdale and D’Almeida communities to provide participants with valuable information about food safety. Another workshop was conducted at the Wolwedans Hall in Great Brak River on 4 December 2024, which was attended by three (3) spaza shop owners and employees. The workshop received positive feedback from participants.
Mossel Bay Municipality’s Waste Department, Building Control, and Town Planning Department formed part of the initiative.
Key topics discussed included:
- Health and Safety – GRDM
- Fire Safety – Mossel Bay Municipality
- Building Plan Compliance – Mossel Bay Municipality
- Waste Management – Mossel Bay Municipality
Informal Food Trader Workshops conducted in Herbertsdale, D’Almeida and Great Brak River by GRDM’s Mossel Bay based EHPs.
Knysna
In the Knysna area, a Blitz Operation was conducted on November 28, 2024, targeting identified areas including Nekkies, Kayalethu, Concordia, and Rheenendal. The operation was carried out in collaboration with the SAPS, Immigration authorities, and the Department of Home Affairs.
During the operation, EHPs seized and safely disposed of foodstuffs deemed unsound and unwholesome. Banned substances, including pesticides, were detained, and the National Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development will be contacted for their confiscation. Health and Hygiene education was also provided to food handlers at the inspected food premises during the operation.
Daily inspections will continue to ensure that quality food products are sold in communities served by these spaza shops.
EHPs from Knysna and stakeholders conducted Blitz Operations in the Nekkies, Kayalethu, Concordia, and Rheenendal areas of Knysna.
Klein Karoo
In the Klein Karoo, Spaza Shop Blitz operations were conducted by GRDM EHPs during the week in Calitzdorp, Ladismith, and Dysselsdorp. The operations involved key role players, including the SAPS, the Department of Agriculture, Immigration officials, and representatives from Local Municipalities’ Town Planning, Fire Services, and Building Control departments.
A total of twenty-six (260 spaza shops were inspected during the operations, with two (2) shops closed due to poor hygienic conditions.
Additionally, EHPs conducted Health and Hygiene workshops in Ladismith on 2 December 2024, and in Oudtshoorn on 3 December 2024. These workshops were well-attended, with twenty-eight (28) spaza shop owners participating in Ladismith and seventy-eight (78) spaza shop owners attending in Oudtshoorn. Read related article: https://www.gardenroute.gov.za/2024/12/03/3-desember-2024-persverklaring-gesondheids-en-higiene-werkswinkel-vir-spaza-winkel-eienaars-en-informele-kosverkopers-gehou-in-ladismith/
Hessequa
On 2 December 2024, EHPs from the GRDM Riversdale based Municipal Health office, conducted a Food Hygiene Workshop in Riversdale.
The workshop was attended by representatives from eighty-six (86) spaza shops, including shop and property owners.
The EHPs expressed their gratitude to all participants for their strong attendance and commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of the Hessequa residents.
Additionally, a Blitz Operation was carried out in Slangrivier on 28 November 2024. During the operation, ten (10) spaza shops were inspected, and one (1) shop was closed due to poor hygienic conditions.
EHPs from the GRDM Hessequa office hosted a Food Hygiene Workshop in Riversdale where eighty-six (86) spaza shops were represented.
George
In the George area, although no shops were visited for inspections, one (1) spaza shop was closed.
Possible Compliance Issues addressed during the operation
In terms of Health and Hygiene violations, shops that were closed may be linked to unsafe food handling practices, unsanitary conditions, or inadequate pest control. In terms of Safety Hazards where shops posed a direct risk to public health and safety, these shops could have been shut down or notices issued until improvements were made.
The Way Forward
- Follow-Up Inspections: The Municipal Health teams serving the various regions will conduct follow-up Inspections to ensure that the spaza shops that were closed or issued notices have rectified their non-compliance issues.
- Enforcement of Notices: Ensure that any prohibition or closure notices are enforced, and shops are only allowed to reopen once they meet the necessary compliance requirements.
- Continued Education and Support: Ongoing training for spaza shop owners to understand and meet health, safety, and legal requirements, helping them avoid future violations.
These collaborative efforts highlight the proactive approach of EHPs and stakeholders in maintaining safe, legal, and hygienic conditions at spaza shops.
While inspections are crucial, continuous education campaigns and workshops are equally important. These initiatives aim to prevent foodborne illnesses, reduce shop closures, and support the communities that rely heavily on these businesses as valuable local assets.
ENDS
Following thorough inspections by EHPs, several foodstuffs were confiscated for non-compliance to the labelling regulations, damaged packaging (foodstuffs got freezer burn due to packaging being torn), expired products, rotten vegetables and fruit and best-before-dates being tampered with.
In the GRDM, Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP) are responsible for various duties that ensure food safety. Their tasks include:
On 24 July 2024, GRDM’s EHPs based in Oudtshoorn, in collaboration with Oudtshoorn Municipality, presented a Health and Hygiene training session for informal food traders of Dysselsdorp at the Dysselsdorp Thusong Service Centre. Twenty-one (21) informal food traders attended the session.
The GRDM EHPs also conducted a Health and Hygiene Education session at the Spaza shops in the Uniondale and Haarlem areas on 25 July 2024. The following topics were further discussed:
