EMALAHLENI – Expired, unlabelled and improperly stored food were some of several violations identified by health MEC Sasekani Manzini during an unannounced inspection to spaza shops and wholesalers in eMalahleni on Friday, November 15, 2024.
Manzini, accompanied by mayor Vusi Nhlapho, was reacting to the recent spate of foodborne illnesses that has also spread to Mpumalanga.
The entourage including provincial and municipal officials, visited 6 businesses including 3 shops, 1 spaza shop and 2 wholesalers in the central business district.
10kg of damaged biscuits, 4kg of chips and 22 tins of canned goods were found damaged.
The inspection, aimed at ensuring compliance with food safety regulations and protect public health, further discovered 3 packets of improperly labelled biscuits, 15 soft drinks and 60 eggs that were about to expire.
“These products were confiscated, and shops without valid licenses were closed. At the spaza shop and two wholesalers,” Manzini said.
“Furthermore, the bottle store within the spaza shop was closed for non-compliance with licensing conditions and mixing trades.”
MEC Manzini stated that the businesses were advised to maintain good housekeeping practices, use registered pest control services to address rodent issues and ensure all food products are properly labelled, stored, and within their expiry dates.
The MEC further said her department will continue with these unannounced inspections across the province.
She emphasized the importance of food safety and urged the public to avoid purchasing unlabelled or expired products, which can lead to serious health risks.
“People must assist us in making sure that before they buy any items, they must check expiry dates because that can helps us take expired items off the shelves, and reduce deaths in our communities, province and the country,” she said.
Meanwhile mayor Nhlapho also assured eMalahleni residents of more unannounced inspections to follow. “We want to ensure that moving forward, there will be compliance, law and order in the city of eMalahleni,” he said.
“This one was just a launching pack towards the real operation that will be conducted in the next two weeks or so.”
