Maile cautions spaza shop owners against paying bogus inspectors

JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Finance MEC, Lebogang Maile has cautioned spaza shop owners against paying money during inspections of their businesses.

The warning comes as allegations of bogus health inspectors demanding money have surfaced.

The Gauteng provincial government has more than 400 health inspectors on the job, to ensure compliance with health and safety standards across the province.

On Thursday, Maile briefed the media in Johannesburg on the progress of the registration of spaza shops in the province.

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It comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s November directive.

Maile said registration is free: “The public must not pay anyone any money because government services are free and of course, the government inspectors will have their clothes and tags. It’s as  simple as that. People must not pay and in most cases, it’s people who are doing wrong things who want to pay bribes.”