Spaza shops raided in North End blitz

Community safety department officials prowled the streets of North End, East London, on Thursday on a raid to ensure spaza shops were operating with permits and foreigners properly documented. 

During the raid, more than 24 foreign nationals were detained and sent to home affairs to have their papers verified.

Only 11 were found to be compliant, and cases were opened against the remaining 13 at the Fleet Street police station. 

Nine shops were found to be operating without permits and on other streets, shops were closed with owners nowhere to be found.

BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said they had resolved that operations should be conducted more often, at least twice a week.

“This is to extend coverage in all 50 wards as the problem of noncompliance is common across the metro.

“We need to ensure that we reach each and every spaza shop operating within the metro to ensure that they comply with various regulations and the bylaws applicable to the food trade.

“And we have to ensure the operators of these spaza shops are compliant with other requirements such as immigration, Sars, NCR [National Credit Regulator] and so on.”

Ngwenya said a number of buildings were undergoing alterations and extensions,  especially in the North End area.

“A task team comprising all affected departments such as city planning, building control, fire services and law enforcement will look at the matter by checking a database of all North End buildings, an assessment to check diversion from approved plans, and penalties issued to noncompliant property owners.

“This is ongoing in other areas where notices are issued followed by legal action by the municipality.” 

Provincial community safety MEC Xolile Nqatha said the purpose of the raid was to intensify law enforcement and to ensure foreign nationals were compliant. 

“Noting the increasing state of lawlessness, we are ensuring that the goods being sold are not expired to safeguard citizens’ health.

“We also need to ensure the buildings are used for what they are designated for.

“People should not do as they wish, they need approved plans, and businesses should have permits.

“We have to ensure that there are no drugs being sold.” 

At the raid, the law enforcers came across businesses keeping huge chunks of unrefrigerated meat. 

“We will intensify these operations. It is the only guarantee that citizens can feel safe.”

Nqatha said the allegations of extortion being thrown around pointed to criminals feeling the heat.

“We have intensified our law enforcers against them and we will focus on them to ensure that they are brought to book.”