Trade union slams health inspectors for neglecting townships

Food confiscated during a raid at a Northern Cape spaza shop.

2 minutes

The Food and Allied Workers’ Union (FAWU) has criticised health inspectors in Cape Town for what it terms neglecting the health and safety of people living in townships. This follows the arrests of six suspects in Mfuleni last week.

This is in connection with the illegal production and operation of a butchery producing meat products.

#GovZAUpdates FOOD SAFETY is about handling, preparing, and storing of food to reduce the risk of consumers becoming sick from food-borne diseases. Here are some tips that can help: #FoodSafety pic.twitter.com/7j0XmfqpsE

— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) November 17, 2024

Police and city officials conducted a joint raid on the facility which was found to be processing and packaging sausages in unhygienic conditions.

FAWU’s Deputy General-Secretary Vuka Chonco says, ” We have long been in the struggle to advance an argument to the government to say they should make sure that there is a fight against illicit trading. So today, we are experiencing, unfortunately the death flowing from that argument to say we need more inspectors. So, if you see the situation that we are now experiencing death and sickness, it is a result of the lack of inspection by the government and it’s unfortunate that it’s not only in Cape Town but it is going across the country in various provinces.”

[ON AIR] The Food and Allied Workers’ Union (FAWU) has raised serious concerns about the apparent neglect of township communities by health inspectors in Cape Town. This follows the shocking discovery of a meat factory allegedly mixing dog food into their sausage products. FAWU… pic.twitter.com/JcBm0L4XKp

— SAfmRadio 📻 (@SAfmRadio) November 18, 2024