Yesterday, 8 October 2019, the Member of the Mayoral Committee responsible for Health and Social Development, Cllr Mpho Phalatse, joined the City’s Environmental Health officials in Region A (Rabie Ridge) as part of the City’s second phase of the environmental health awareness campaign.
“The City remains committed to protecting the environmental health and welfare of residents. Together we must maintain a healthy and safe City, as well as foster a culture of safeguarding our environment,” said Cllr Phalatse.
The campaign started off with residents being informed and educated on the number of services the environmental health unit has. These include health surveillance of food premises, food control, water quality monitoring, surveillance and prevention of communicable diseases, vector control, environmental pollution, chemical safety, disposal of the dead and waste management.
MMC Phalatse said it was important for Environmental Health Practitioners to conduct inspections so as to not compromise the health of unsuspecting residents.
Following the awareness campaign, MMC Phalatse led the campaign to an area commonly known as “Swazi-Inn”, where fines were issued to several shopkeepers for transgressing a number of by-laws.
One of the shopkeepers was issued with a fine for having an expired certificate of acceptability. The certificate is issued by the City to businesses which meet the norms and standards as specified by the law.
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 remain a challenge.
The awareness campaign conducted in Region A today includes a City-wide awareness campaign to sensitize residents on what steps to take when confronted with issues which may pose risks to their health.
In the next month, the campaign will move to Region G (Orange Farm) where more residents will be educated on the City’s environmental health by-laws.
Residents can contact the City’s Environmental Health Practitioners in each region to report any suspected activity which may affect the health of unsuspecting residents.
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)
Issued by:
Cllr Dr Mpho Phalatse
Member of Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development
City of Johannesburg
Media Enquiries:
Mr Siyanda Makhubo
Stakeholder Manager and Spokesperson
Email: SiyandaMa@joburg.org.za
Cell: 081 548 9078
