The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) welcomes the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) shutting down six spaza shops in the Ekurhuleni Metro for failing to comply with, among other things, health regulations.
The spaza shops are located in Alberton, Edenvale and Katlehong.
While the party welcomes this step in the right direction, it is merely the tip of the iceberg.
There are many more spaza shops in the Metro operating without adhering to basic health and safety regulations, thus putting the health and well-being of communities at risk.
The Freedom Front Plus encourages an entrepreneurial spirit, and recognises people’s right to earn a living and provide for their families. However, this must never come at the expense of public safety.
There are strict regulations regarding food safety, hygiene standards, licensing, and the proper handling and storage of food and beverages.
The Freedom Front Plus believes that authorities should not only sporadically crack down on offenders, but should address the full extent of the problem.
The Freedom Front Plus, therefore, calls on the Ekurhuleni Metro to:
• Increase inspections across all municipal areas, particularly those with a high concentration of informal food vendors.
• Publicly disclose the specific violations discovered during these operations for the sake of transparency and awareness.
• Implement a proactive compliance-awareness programme for new and existing business owners.
• Take swift and decisive action against repeat offenders who keep failing to adhere to the law.
It is imperative to protect the health and lives of Ekurhuleni residents.
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