Five foreign-owned spaza shops in Soweto closed due to non-compliance

Several foreign owned spaza shops have been closed in Soweto after they were found with expired food items and non labelled goods.

City of Johannesburg officials, together with the police, raided spaza shops in Dobsonville and Diepkloof on Friday.

The raids follow incidents of foodborne illnesses which have claimed the lives of more than 20 children in the past few months.

It has been found that some of the children fell ill after consuming snacks allegedly bought from local spaza. The latest death is that of a 5-year-old from Diepkloof.

Officials had their hands full as they moved from one spaza to the other. During the raids law enforcement personnel uncovered live ammunition and other illegal items at one of the shops. City of Johannesburg Economic Development MMC Nomoya Mnisi led the operation.

“We closed down all four spaza shops. In the first one that we went to we discovered live ammunition. SAPS was here with us and they did indicate what firearms those ammunition is used for. The big boss did have papers to be here legally. But the employees did not.”

Five spaza shops, four in Dobsonvile and one in Diepkloof, were closed down for not complying with the City’s by-laws.

Expired products were also confiscated.

There also reports that another child fell ill in Diepkloof and was rushed to the local clinic after allegedly consuming snacks from a spaza shop.

“We have just spoke to the mother of the child who is at Bara who indicated that child is critical. So, the situation is becoming dire.”

Meanwhile some foreign nationals have accused locals of looting their shops after officials had left.

This shop owner who refused to be named due to fear of intimidation elaborates.

“They have taken everything. When the police came and asked for the papers and to verify them, I went to the police station. When I came back they had looted.”

Mnisi says they will expand the operations to other areas of the City.