The City of Joburg’s Environmental Health Practitioners are working around the clock to raid formal and informal food outlets following complaints from the public about the sale of expired food items.
Through operation BuyaMthetho - a team comprising of JMPD, Environmental Health Practitioners and officials from other departments dealing with by-law enforcement, the City has been conducting raids in food outlets as part of its mandate to safeguard the health of residents.
MMC Phalatse said it was important to allow law enforcement agencies to conduct the raids so as to not compromise the rights of lawful traders. However, the City does recognize the role of civil society in blowing the whistle on those traders who are selling expired goods.
She said she understood the frustration from communities, who bear the brunt of unscrupulous traders, but calls for calm, following an outbreak of violence in some parts of the City related to trading in expired food items.
The City’s Environmental Health Practitioners are working hard every day to inspect, monitor and issue fines to establishments that break the law, however, the scope of work and the number of outlets across the City remains a challenge.
We will be embarking on a City-wide awareness campaign to sensitize residents on what steps to take when confronted with stale food in grocery outlets.
“The fatalities in Soweto are evidence of what can happen when communities take the law into their own hands. I would like to urge residents to please work through official channels to expose these offenders,” said Phalatse.
Phalatse called on all stakeholders including Customs, Revenue Services and the Consumer Council to assist in clamping down these illegal operations.
Metropolitan Centre, 158 Loveday Street. Braamfontein
P O Box 1049, Johannesburg, 2000
Tel: +27 11 407 7558 Fax: +27 11 339 5704
She also called on the public to contact the City’s Environmental Health Practitioners in each region, should
they suspect illegal trading of expired food items.
Environmental practitioners to contact in each of the City’s seven regions:
Region A: Jacques Scholts (011 237 8002 / 082 467 9292)
Region B: Zanouke Mbane (011 226 8309 / 072 064 8858)
Region C: Rika van Heerden (011 761 0217/ 082 467 9521)
Region D: Nontsikilelo Letsosa (011 986 0106/ 083 701 8502)
Region E: Skrik Viljoen (011 582 1659/ 082 823 5008)
Region F: Paballo Sekokotla (011 681 8082/ 083 462 5031)
Region G: Fatima Cordom (011 211 8924/ 082 371 8636)
*The list will also be posted in all our clinics and municipal offices.
For media queries or interview opportunities, please contact:
Lesego Mathibela
Stakeholder Manager
Office of the MMC – Health and Social Development
Tel: (011) 407 6725
Mobile: 061 497 8286
E-mail: LesegoMat@joburg.org.za and Cojhealthsocial@gmail.com
