More spaza shops closed in Garden Route Municipality after blitz operations
Garden Route District Municipality officials inspect goods at a spaza shop. Picture: Gardenroute.gov.za
CAPE TOWN - The Garden Route District Municipality says more spaza shops have been closed following blitz operations this week.
The local government is executing President Cyril Ramaphosa's instruction that all food-handling stores be registered, as part of government's response to hundreds of cases of food contamination that have led to at least 23 child deaths.
Last week, the municipality deployed officials, after nine grade 5 learners were rushed to a hospital in Mossel Bay with stomach cramps and itchy skin after sharing chips bought from a spaza shop in Kwanonqaba.
The municipality's Herman Pieters: "Recent operations in Mossel Bay and George led to the closure of several shops due to non-compliance, including issues like unhygienic conditions and the lack of proper ventilation. Refresher training is also rolled out to spaza shops throughout the Garden Route region. Just yesterday, more than 200 food traders attended a session in Thembalethu, George."