Tshwane Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise is calling for a major overhaul of the city's law enforcement agencies, citing corruption and ineptitude.
This comes after a foreign-run shop in Manyeleti, which was previously condemned and closed, reopened despite non-compliance with health and safety standards.
Modise expressed frustration, saying, "This is a clear indication that our law enforcement agencies are either corrupt or not doing their job."
He specifically mentioned the SAPS and Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) as agencies that need restructuring.
The shop in question had been raided just two weeks prior, resulting in the arrest of over 20 illegal immigrants.
Despite this, the shop reopened with condemned items, including expired food and cleaning detergents without manufacturer labels.
Modise appreciated the efforts of Emergency Medical Services and health practitioners in enforcing compliance among local businesses.
He suggested that the executive, led by Dr Nasiphi Moya, should convene a meeting to address the issue.
“The items didn’t have expiry dates and the name of the manufacturer. I think we must overhaul the entire law-enforcement agency within the city, SAPS and TMPD,” he said.
In a related development, the City of Tshwane embarked on a service delivery campaign in Region 7, shutting down eight spaza shops in Sokhulumi for non-compliance.
The shops were found to be selling expired and rotten food, and illegal immigrants were arrested.
Spaza shop operators were also found to be sleeping and bathing in areas used to sell food, violating health regulations.
Moya said in the whole area there are eight spaza shops and all of them were shut down for non-compliance.
“We found dozens of expired products. Meat packages that were rotten and clearly unsafe for consumption. The owner of one of the spaza shops burnt product stock in an attempt to conceal the items from inspection,” she said.
Pretoria News