Bonteheuwel ward councillor Angus McKenzie is calling on local residents to report incidents of expired food products being sold in spaza shops, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Following recent visits to stores in Bonteheuwel, Langa, and Matroosfontein, McKenzie highlighted the importance of heightened awareness to protect public health from potentially dangerous expired goods.
This push comes on the heels of a recent City of Cape Town operation that shut down an illegal butchery in Mfuleni and the discovery of discarded old food in Khayelitsha. While McKenzie cannot directly close down spaza shops, he has committed to advocating for compliance with health regulations in these businesses.
‘It is not within my authority or any councillor’s authority to shut down spaza shops,’ McKenzie clarified. However, he praised the spaza shops he visited that had already begun the registration process and were making sure their stock complied with health standards.
‘I must say I was extremely grateful for the stores that I visited who had started their registration process and ensured all their stock was fresh and within its expiration date,’ McKenzie said.
The City’s Environmental Health Service has responded to the situation by receiving over 1 000 applications for Certificates of Acceptability in just one week. According to Patricia van der Ross, Mayco member for community services and health, these certificates are only granted after a full inspection and the submission of all required documentation to ensure compliance with health regulations.
McKenzie concluded his statement by urging the community to take action, ‘If you have concerns about the freshness of food, cleanliness, or the service in any spaza shop, I encourage you to report it.’
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Picture: OJ Koloti / Gallo Images
