Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) conducted 1 175 inspections between November 1 and December 6 and over 700 premises were found to be non-compliant. Picture: Itumeleng English /Independent Newspapers
As the deadline looms for spaza shops and food-handling facilities to register their businesses for a traders' permit, the City says the processing and finalisation of applications will not be possible in such a short time frame without additional resources being made available.
The City confirmed it received over 4000 applications for Certificates of Acceptability (COA) since November 18.
Its Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) also conducted 1 175 inspections between November 1 and December 6 and over 700 premises were found to be non-compliant.
Last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa gave spaza shop owners and vendors until Friday, December 13, to register with their respective municipalities, following a spate of food-borne illnesses and pesticide related deaths across the country.
At a briefing to the national council of provinces on November 28, he said more than 1 000 spaza shops, supermarkets and warehouses had been closed, large quantities of goods confiscated and numerous fines issued for violations of by-laws.
However the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia Van der Ross said the processing of the high amount of applications would not be possible in such a short time.
“Without additional resources being made available, the actual processing and finalisation of applications will not be possible in such a short time frame. Where operators have applied via e-services they will have received a case number as proof of application. In July, City Health launched an online tool to facilitate COA applications, to make it easier for businesses to apply.
After a COA is issued, all premises are routinely monitored to ensure on-going compliance. These visits ensure that standards are maintained,” Van der Ross said.
She said COAs were only awarded on submission of all relevant documentation, and a physical inspection to ensure that the premises comply with legislative requirements.
According to the City, during this period, EHPs issued a total of 150 Health Notices, 85 Section 56 Notices (fines) amounting to R257,000, 6 Section 54 Notices (summons to court), and 27 Prohibition Orders.
Meanwhile Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) mayor Andrew Stroebel said there were a total 1 245 spaza shops recorded across the region including Knysna (157); Bitou (158); George (357); Mossel Bay (200); Oudtshoorn (224); Kannaland (51) and Hessequa (98).
Inspections at premises across the municipalities totaled 863, while 88 spaza shops and informal food premises were closed. Over 30 food-related incidents were reported across the municipalities including hospitalisations, with Mossel Bay recording 11 incidents. A total of 152 COAs were issued across the municipalities.
South African National Civic Organisation’s Kwena Mangoato said the situation on the ground across the country was still challenging.
“We are observing an influx at local municipal offices. People are rushing for this 21 day deadline. No one understands this process, this timeframe is not enough for our people to migrate from old processes to this new process.
Even officials themselves don't know what to do, 21 days is not doable,” Mangoato said.
He added that there had been observations where local community members, including older individuals and youth, were helping foreign nationals with the registration process.
This raised concerns, he said, as it could lead to complications, such as inaccurate records that may suggest an individual has an income when they do not. “This could create challenges, particularly if someone tries to apply for SASSA benefits, potentially causing confusion or issues regarding their eligibility,” Mangoato added.
Cape Times