The South African Police Service within the Pienaar Cluster in Mpumalanga, in conjunction with the Mbombela Municipality Law Enforcement, conducted an operation yesterday, 10 October 2018, in the Nelspruit CBD which yielded positive results. The operation was aimed at inspecting and ensuring compliance by shops selling foodstuffs and groceries in terms of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, Act 54 of 1972.
During the execution of the operation, police searched various shops and found one shop selling expired products ranging from baby formula to soft drinks, which were then confiscated. The owner of the shop was charged with contravening Section 3 of the Act and given a fine. Eight more shop owners were also fined for failing to comply with an acceptable state of hygiene.
As part of the operation, the team also patrolled the problematic Henshall and Anderson Street with an aim of curbing the scourge of crime perpetrated within that area, like theft out of motor vehicles and dealing in drugs.
Henceforth, these operations will be conducted continuously thoughout the province for the duration of the festive season and beyond.
The Provincial Commissioner of Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Mondli Zuma warned shop owners to comply with the law. He also said that they must keep their shops clean and desist from selling expired food because that poses a serious health hazard to consumers. General Zuma was also surprised that even expired food for small babies was also on the shelves ready to be sold to the public. He has warned community members to check expiry dates before buying anything and not be pleased by the fact that a product may be cheap.
