Residents of Diepkloof in Soweto say whether foreign nationals register their spaza shops or not, they don't want them anywhere near their kasi. They told this to Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, who visited the area today together with various stakeholders checking for compliance from spaza shops and also to raise awareness on food safety. 

NOT HERE!

An angry community leader who asked to be identified as Papa G said since last week, about 32 spaza shops have been closed in Diepkloof following food poisoning incidents that have left two children dead. "We have decided to take the matter into our own hands. We are not fighting with anyone and we mean no harm, but these foreign nationals will never run their spaza shops in this community," he said. He explained that with all the shops closed, there has been no chaos. "We approached the shop owners and assistants nicely and asked them to pack up and leave our area. We even made it clear to them that even if they can register their spaza shops, they must look for other places to trade in, not here. We have community members that are more than capable of running spaza shops," said Papa G.

FOLLOW PROPER PROCESSES 

Nkomo-Ralehoko said they still have a long way to go in terms of making sure that spaza shops comply with the required standards, but she believes that they will slowly achieve their intended goal. "We went around in Diepkloof checking a few of the shops that are still open. We're having a multi-disciplinary team that is working with all government departments that are related to this thing. For example, this place is a residential site and this container is not supposed to be placed where it is in this particular yard; hence, the MMC for development planning is here to make sure that they follow through with proper processes to ensure that there is proper re-zoning for spaza shops if they're going to be amongst the communities. We want to make sure that landlords understand what they are getting themselves into when they erect containers in their yards without following proper procedures," she said. The MEC believes that their efforts have been fruitful because they have a database of every area where they have been. "We know the cases of the people that have been affected, we know the cases of the children that have demised and we know the results immediately of some of the things that those children have eaten that have led to their death," added Nkomo-Ralehoko.

NON-COMPLIANCE FINES

MMC for Development Planning, Eunice Mgcina, explained that they will be issuing fines to people who erect containers for spaza shops or any other structure in their yards without following any town plan. "Our people just wake up and extend their properties without following proper procedures of building plans and making sure that the improvements in their yard are complying with the by-laws," she said.