Authorities close spaza shop in Naledi

The National Consumer Commission, in collaboration with law enforcement, has closed down a spaza shop in Naledi, Soweto. The raids follow the death of six children over suspected food poisoning. Authorities have also taken off the shelves some items in these spaza shops. Veronica Makhoali has more.
Tune into Newzroom Afrika DStv channel 405 for more.

[@TsekoMofokeng-v2o]

All these mess because of useless ANC government

[@alimalolwana3922]

100% ANC is nonsense

[@vusidumisanimiya994]

Arrogance Nepotism Corruption (ANC) doesn't deserve to govern this country,it was supposed to have lost power long time ago .When their started to do arm's deal saga that's when we should have been worried of this organization

[@jameskillu9171]

Dont blame ANC, for personal decisions.

[@lulenhleko6283]

So so true

[@florencediallo8340]

​@@jameskillu9171 UTTER RUBBISH!!!!!!

[@normannorman5546]

Officials must close down all shops country wide. Not only Naledi

[@VIBEWITHNELI-x8q]

COMMUNITIES MUST DO THAT THEMSELVES, THEY MUST NOT WAIT FOR OFFICIALS IN MY COMMUNITY WE CHASED THEM FIVE YEARS AGO WITHOUT ANY OFFICIALS HELPE, WHAT STOPING OTHER COMMUNITIES FROM DOING THE SAME? GAUTENG BLACK PEOPLE ARE NOT UNITED AND THY ARE COWARDS!

[@nomalungelongcete5875]

Exactly

[@mahareng]

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 true but somebody said that BA ya kolodisa,BA pha abantu some items for burials etc( but these acts are just to secure their stay/ revenue whilst the village and the country are not benefitting....more risks than gains

[@anitasamuels8821]

@@normannorman5546Solution to the problem is South Africans to stop patronising these spaza shops end of story.

[@jordanmntungwa3311]

@@anitasamuels8821 no, spaza shops must be taxed, regulated and they must eventually close

[@wonderful-m4v]

South Africans stop supporting these shops.

[@LuckyPhiri-k9l]

U baying R2 sugare

[@LuckyPhiri-k9l]

South African istill 21

[@bottomeyeview2767]

It's hard brother, some people would have to take 2 taxis to go shop, and if you do bulk shopping you have to pay extra for the parcels you have. and also most these spaza shops will give items on credit which makes the locals support more. It's not like we enjoy supporting these people, or its not that we unaware of the quality of rheir products buts it's a case of poverty meets desperation. The foreiners set up their shops close to homes which make it convenient and "cheaper". If only our local sellers set up in rural areas but they fear for their own safety so the real isssue is why hasnt there been a intervention from govenment.

[@nocawesiame5171]

@@LuckyPhiri-k9l

[@zeesays726]

Its easier to say that if you have other closer options that you can afford but for the poor in the township this is what they can afford sadly the shops have to be completely closed down.

[@NombuleloRode]

We must not let them rent in our yards

[@jjm5300]

Checking for expired foods is not enough, they need also to check their status in the country, who their suppliers are.

[@NomD05MZ]

Some are married to SA women and they pay them R20 per month 😢.

[@Linds-qh6qs]

Some marry them go and live with theirs wives and leave a South African alone it’s just getting worse

[@Nthabeleng507]

My husband never allows us to buy from there…ever! He would rather go out at night to 8pm spar or garage. No spaza food consumption

[@CasiweMhlotshana]

Spar is worse .....

[@sandiledlamini628]

​@CasiweMhlotshana you're lying

[@tebogosuping7007]

I’m that husband

[@tebogosuping7007]

Imagine o e tsasa ka baby oil then duku duku your skin turns into braai meat?

[@Nthabeleng507]

@@CasiweMhlotshana atleast they will account. They’re under food control laws. If anything happens, they must account.

[@ephraimmotho887]

Classic South Africa - only act after tragedy strikes and then... go back to the old way of doing things 😭

[@nomalungelongcete5875]

Sad 😢😢😢

[@noziphojakuja9898]

All this action is not going to bring back those young souls we have lost 💔💔💔

[@GinaTwinkle22]

Do these people have EMOTIONS, ARE THEY EVEN FEELING SORRY FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CHILDREN?

[@Linds-qh6qs]

I don’t even think they do that much as the so many tragedies that have happened even here in Naledi last year 3 kids died sadly 😢

[@Elizabethsnyders]

They don't care ,so long as they can make money

[@samueltsoai2418]

We have been complaining about this expiry thing long time.Goverment does not listen

[@Linds-qh6qs]

It’s been years and you cannot police the kids all the time.

[@GK222_]

Some higher ups are benefiting from these people, that's why they're so reluctant to take action on their many illegal activities

[@cebile1493]

Thank you finally somebody who says it

[@nelsonchinasamy9857]

You are most likely right about that. Someone is collecting protection money from these guys.

[@michaellouw4998]

To my fellow Coloured/Black South Africans, we should open and support our own shops.

[@JeminaTsotetsi-vi4gy]

This people must go

[@goodman003]

Go where??????

[@jameskillu9171]

Go back to your senses. Go back to love, Go back to being a human,

[@JeminaTsotetsi-vi4gy]

They are the high risk in our community

[@nontsikelelokafundo5081]

Shoprite and mobile shops should replace these shops

[@bathenebuthelezi1614]

No no we don't need shoprite. Black people must take back those jobs....

[@acidicsoul4978]

No please, SA should start making their own spaza shops. Diapers in ShopRite is more expensive then that in these spaza. Our people should do research on how to open their own "ShopRite" and sell things at affordable prices.

[@jameskillu9171]

white monopoly business, right. Africans cant do business.Apartheid crippled the mind of slaves.

[@johnnymohane4494]

Shoprite, Pick & Pay, and Boxer are just the same, the thing is people don't expect bad products from them because of their familiarity. I bought rotten meat twice at Pick& Picky AND I HAVE TO Return IT SPENDING DOUBLE THE MONEY i USED TO TRAVEL. They must also be inspected.

[@chrislebese8513]

I agree with you 100%. Actually the very concept of spaza shops was hijacked. This people use to drive around with inted windows cars looking for spaza shops. After they identify them a week or two they approach those with no backbone and begin setting up their spaza around 5he original one then reduce prices to the attract customers. They must all be closed. Even the branding of top south african, they order packaging and logo printers from China. We know very well this food they are selling are made by them. Those who complain that this shops must close are the very once who borrow food and money from this people.

[@acidicsoul4978]

I can smell this store through my phone. No oxygen, even the journalist is sweating

[@nomalungelongcete5875]

😂😂😂😂😂😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@mboneni]

😁😁😁

[@Kholmi.28]

It's not funny, but I'm laughing at the way you described this. Too accurate.

[@bathenebuthelezi1614]

😅😅😅😅😅😂😂😂😂

[@wesa101mapena9]

😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@RezaKgotso]

Publicity stunt, they will open again in few days after paying tjotjo!

[@Truthbetold-b4u]

Yes to the corrupt cops they love this

[@josephinamokoena6865]

You are right they do so

[@rinky17888]

I will not be surprise if that happen. If serious criminals who are arrested get the case struck off the court role then this is small matter for corruption

[@petroguilherme5549]

Unfortunately

[@tsepoconfidence6184]

Journalist with a golden voice

[@lefar4498]

This is how they can buy bulk buy as a group, zero contribution to tax, zero compliance to standard paye,uif, and zero compliance to wastage management, it makes competition difficult with a guy who is properly registered for compliance as he's forced to follow proper regulations as per sars and labour procedures, circulation of expired items for resale, which means is 100% mark up in return.

[@ElethuDuna]

Its not enough to just complain, communities must not buy and then these spaza shpos owners will respond willingly once money is withheld.

[@acidicsoul4978]

True 💯

[@cebile1493]

Withdraw support precisely!!!

[@nomalungelongcete5875]

Stop buying from these please 😢

[@Bee-dp3st]

Exactly!!! That’s all it takes!

[@elbertmoreno2159]

Healthy competition can lead to lower prices, but this kind of business undercuts any moral and suitability for food consumption.

[@phumlamazibuko3003]

Inspectors must continue with inspections in all spaza shops even the citizens shops to avoid the same fatal incidents

[@mlazakenna276]

Fact these guys are not here legally. They just have to get arrested

[@mlazakenna276]

They are useless those inspectors. they take bribes

[@temperancemtwalo5962]

Kodwa Mzontsundu siyeka nini ukuthenga kwababantu abasibulala sjongile.😢😢😢

[@vernonfelix9218]

The real problem is :who supply these spaza shops with expired products? They are the culprits and authorities should go after them.

[@MissSlenda]

What if they bought it within the date before the expiration date, and yet they decided to continue selling it because they do t want to waste money to throw it away. There can be these 2 reasons the company they bought it from buy, yet it expired on they shelves and yet refuse to get rid of those goods because they busy saving cost on the expense of South Africans lives.

[@rittah8161]

​@@MissSlenda what about the famous video of them making purified water using toilet?

[@Mmabo2]

Why are people buying from these shops, if you don't but from them they will leave the area simple..

[@nomalungelongcete5875]

True

[@Bee-dp3st]

Literally that’s all it takes! 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@JcoolerOfficial]

What about kids ? They will keep buying without hesitation because they don't know better..

[@ayamazungu1907]

​@SifisoJcooler that is where the adults come in.teach kids to do the right things.

[@JcoolerOfficial]

@@ayamazungu1907 Yeah... 👀 OH a 6 year old can listen diligently to their parents without rebelling. 🤔 Oh what a perfect world you live in where kids don't have a mind of their own, I guess you have a militant parenting.

[@NM1583-q5s]

Soweto pple are very stubborn ..choose to pay with your child's life?

[@mozai294]

Morons.

[@rittah8161]

We have failed those kids, as a country😡

[@thusigladys6697]

They must closed all spaza shops course our children dying from their food

[@nomalungelongcete5875]

It was also exposed that they print the labels eg KOO and put them on their products and people think that they buy KOO😢😢😢😢😢

[@sharonhatzenbuehler4591]

True, I bought what I thought was Koo baked beans, boy was I shocked😂😂

[@rittah8161]

​@@sharonhatzenbuehler4591yhoooooooo

[@nelisiwendesi]

Their vinegar tast like salted water it does not even smell like it.... These people must be arrested maan 😢

[@nomalungelongcete5875]

@@sharonhatzenbuehler4591 😥😥😥

[@nomalungelongcete5875]

@@nelisiwendesi Haybo 😳😥

[@mfundolek-mh1ve]

Please I wish government could concentrate nationwide not only naledi may those kids souls rest in peace

[@patsh3714]

They don't pay tax those ones

[@bathenebuthelezi1614]

They must fire those councilors.....

[@cebile1493]

Why can't we black people withdraw our support???....because it's evident that authorities are not willing to listen to anyone....withdraw support so that there will be no demand

[@Truthbetold-b4u]

Why can’t black people open up their own shops so these people can go home

[@lethebelaphala8785]

Our people are starving, this is food to them, to some of us is trash depending on the choices we still have left in us, with a R350 you can survive through this shops for a month, who knows 🤷

[@Kholmi.28]

I keep asking this.

[@cebile1493]

​@@Truthbetold-b4u they are in my community there are 2 vs 5 non locals and people said they support them because they can buy on credit, that their cheap and they've been here for long....and the local ones even receive intimidation from our councilor and community forums to shut down

[@Kb892hd76dd]

Those shops are incredibly hot inside, no wonder food get spoiled

[@nomalungelongcete5875]

They also sleep in these shops 😢

[@bathenebuthelezi1614]

​@@nomalungelongcete5875😅😅and having sex next to the bags of rice nd maize meal 😅

[@dianasekatane6045]

It's been a long time since OD was trying to chase these people from the townships, but the community was shielding these people. The community must take a look at themselves in their mirrors to see what they want for their safety.

[@wilsonngwato2673]

Close down all shops

[@doc_zithu]

Shutdown all warehouses

[@sizakelemahlakoe6758]

Where are the immigration officers 🤔

[@mariahkamogelomoloisane6276]

This is not a spaza shop. That is a fully-fledged shop that must pay VAT and produce receipts for tax purposes.

[@marynadewet4634]

There is a shop in Mossel Bay that only sells expired food, openly. Advertise it as such. It is all very confusing.

[@beewest5704]

There are shops that sell short dated stock. That means food that will expire soon. No store is supposed to sell already expired goods. Report them.

[@OrlaneMotla]

More children had to lose their lives before anything was done. What is the status of the shopkeepers in this country? Who will be held responsible for the loss of young lives?

[@mlazakenna276]

So the shops are still open💔💔💔💔

[@glory7275]

This people are even arrogant when you return the item will never take it back and when you buy with your bank card each 100 rand they will add 10 rand for charges I really don’t get it how are they selling cheap mean while they are reaping our people and send/channeling money to their countries.

[@jabulanekgopane9864]

y isnt the law of immigration followed how did they get to trade in the first place

[@gugulethusibiya957]

...the only time you'll see these useless authorities is after an incident has occurred...most of government authorities from different departments are very lazy ...

[@nontsikelelokafundo5081]

Viewing People as animals, undermining people you are serving 😢🥺what the hell.

[@DizAsta011]

Communities have been complaining about expired products but the raids will happen when ppl dies from them.

[@Truthbetold-b4u]

Can’t die from expired food only tin food like fish

[@Kholmi.28]

Communities should boycott.

[@MissSlenda]

South Africa is just a big mess. The officials are so lost and confused because the 1 minute is this. The next minute is something else. Next week, something else will come up, and this whole spaza shop and children death will be something of the past. Beacuse these inspectors fail to dk they jobs every single day they will know alone what they doing at work unless they telling they bosses they going to do inspections then they going home and crook up they reports when they submit it.

[@Ritesh-yy1zr]

Lol, it's funny, but you right

[@rourkebuys1791]

U must also realize that things happen at anytime in any country. just because other countries are not showing the news of small issues within they communities does not mean things don't happen there. SA is a growing country and in the last 20 30 years we doubled in size of population and also in terms of growing communities. yes we can blame government , but the majority of the problems is the SA citizens (US) . we allow such things to happen by supporting and just letting things slide. So this action is happening now but after what will the community do, people will complain coz they not getting rent no more as the foreigners have been put out. people will say now we have to go far to buy essentials? then the cycle starts all over again, why, Coz we greedy and just want for ourselves. people must uplift there communities and people. people must stand up and open shops that SA people can support and also must support otherwise it will fail. we as SA citizens must really start changing the way we think and do things. charity starts at home( Is the old saying)

[@MaVee3112]

I so pray that the Department of Small business development will move in quickly to empower and support local capable people to close the gap these shops filled. There is a need for these corner stores, but the need for compliance is even higher. The need for local SA SMEs is higher. The need for locally owned enterprises and jobs is more. Sad that so many lives had to be lost first.

[@emmabls8183]

Why must our kids 1st die before our offials can take action against these spaza shops in our locations and townships? 🙆🥺 My husband told our kids to not even buy bread by these foreign owned shops because most items are old and expired 😕 🇿🇦🤔

[@Nthabeleng507]

Wow. Such disregard of SA human life. 😢 disheartening how we never stop being taken as humans.

[@MotloulucasMatlala]

Why after death....!

[@cebile1493]

Because they don't care

[@nomalungelongcete5875]

Nothing 😢

[@ikramtailor]

Please send authority to 92 old castle avenue Crosby illegal Shop more than 50 illegal immigrants in the property illegal electricity connection not paying for water and sewer as well

[@gearmotiongamer5138]

One thing I know about our Government is they are re-active not pro-active. In a month they will be sitting and sleeping in their offices, e.g. remember the activeness they had about the restaurant saga, where are they now. The energy died down just as fast as they started. Always sudden after something happened.

[@ByronAnswalNolands-t3i]

These people is not paying taxes nor they not even investing in our country their took the money abroad to their countries

[@Laifahamuli]

Where are the actual owners of these shops? That young man does not seem like he knows what's going on. Also who are the officials that "visited" and "checked" these shops before hand?

[@Ntsako100]

Having officials on the ground clearly works, why don t our leaders make it standard practise?? After all this PR and Media stunts it will be back to normal before even the end of the week?? We really lack leadership as a country

[@Morgan-s9z]

That boy is not the owner of that dumping spaza,and he is all alone.He should be arrested and deported,because no one asked for his papers.Those Soweto houses are not a business site,but are residential properties.If it's okay for poor blacks then let these foreigners open their 'shops' inside the properties of politicians,starting with Panyeasa Leswufi and Dadada Murerwa.

[@JosephMavuso-u7w]

very sad government officials sitting in their offices they don’t worry about people on the ground 💔😡😡

[@diatilenthoba8262]

Landlords are the problem of abo my friend to be in every corner.they say they are surviving on them by paying rent.

[@rittah8161]

While they stay with rats and cats in one room. Sies

[@DavidBrown-119]

On camera it looks pretty standard. Please specify what the problems are. 1. Expired foods 2. counterfeit packaging... what else? Is it unlawful to sell expired goods? Please more clarity. Condition / Shoddy is not satisfactory because many street vendors are worse. Some journalism please.

[@mokokobalejosephina]

They are illegal they don't pay tax.they are not registered

[@jordanmntungwa3311]

Return Spaza shops to South Africans. facilitate entrepreneurial education and initiatives from school level. include economics from grade 9. Return Spaza shops to South Africans. Strengthen laws surrounding ownership of Spaza shops. Spaza shops must be taxed otherwise it is state capture to run a billion rand industry without the community or the country benefiting from it in any way. Sponsor South African's spaza shops, rebrand Spaza shop ideology to reflect the hopes and dreams of South African's. we need to own our own shops.

[@jameskillu9171]

How many do you own with your economics, Education is useless if educated people reason like you,

[@BanyanaMangena]

Am very shocked because even after the was inspector the store was still operating

[@MD..926]

Why are the officials still negotiating instead of closing the shop, confiscate everything close the shop move everything to your deport or center for testing.

[@ckoriablack]

Why are they not getting arrested?

[@nancymwanza1066]

Imagine the long term effects of the things we ingest unknowingly

[@johnnymohane4494]

Can some body please provide me with contact to contact the Consumer Goods Council to report some shops on WF NKOMO street next to Piccadilly in Pretoria Tshwane. The conditions in these shops is just appalling and the local metro cops care less because they just come and take bribe.

[@NthabiMotloung-od5pm]

All spaza shops not just Naledi

[@janstephanusoosthuizen1549]

I have been watching this shops and foodstalls on the sidewalks with NO health or safety or running water, people are going to die from these places.

[@Martin_Priesthood]

Last year we had even rotting meat! What happened? If some of the products are imported it means someone is sleeping on the job

[@thxmie]

The question is where was ANC

[@agoodfilter7139]

Why don’t you stop landlords from renting to foreigners. You are too scared. Hypocrites

[@jameskillu9171]

Spar porridge was not sold by foreigners

[@mlazakenna276]

Funny those shops will be back in operation very soon.

[@RianRian-em2ng]

SA people must start opening there own spaza shops then i will support them if if its a SA

[@Elizabethsnyders]

Some off these shops transfer things in their own bags and seal it ,like cereal and sell them in cheaper prices

[@acidicsoul4978]

And people buy, eat and enjoy them 😂

[@mlazakenna276]

It's poverty bro. Some​how people feel like they don't have a choice@@acidicsoul4978

[@mpram5522]

They cannot provide supplier or purchaser details because it is obtained illegally

[@rittah8161]

💔💔💔💔💔

[@FH-bx9wc]

They are now pretending to be working at the cost of five innocent souls. ANC should be ashamed of themselves.

[@vusidumisanimiya994]

Nonsense officials together nalohulumeni wakhona ngoba sekushone izingane .Okokuqala banelungelo na yokuthengisa nokubala kulelizwe na

[@thamizama5904]

Products with no expiry dates, expiry dates rubbed off, products with no barcodes, meaning the manufacture of these products cannot be traced. These foreign owned shops have cancelled their privilege given to them to operate in our communities, and there are so many trade violations in these shops and this is all over the country not just in Soweto. It is good that the authorities are taking a stand. Communities must also play their part by completely boycotting these shops. A little bit of sacrifice is needed. Are people of South Africa going to die of hunger as a result of closure of these shops?

[@RebeccaKekana-m9f]

What are you south Africans waiting for . Closed the spada shops no negotiations full stop

[@shopekassie]

Take photos of the health hazards within these spaza shops. Record everything. We are labelled "xenophobic".

[@NirmalaMoodley-h2l]

A Spaza shop not properly ventilated, wouldn't that impact the longetivity ,life span of food. An episode like this ,6 lives lost thru some food poisoning, brings awareness to communities allowing these unauthorized, irregulated businesses in operation. Looking at baby food stored in this shop ,cause for concern.

[@simplemcritick738]

How can i report the spaza shops in my area

[@chadleighdebruyn7673]

What happened to local owned and local run corner shops. It’s been too long since I’ve seen a local citizen owning or working in a spaza/corner shop

[@nelsonchinasamy9857]

They have been bought out by these foreigners who work as syndicates. A whole street where I live was once a thriving area for local small businesses. All these little shops have been taken over by Bangladeshis and Pakistanis. 😅The only solution is to stop supporting these people.

[@mthokozisilanga4497]

Newroom used to call us xenophobic when we were complaining about these illegal immigrants selling poison in the township.

[@TiisetsoMatotoka]

They must leave we can't afford to loose our kids

[@prudenceandrade6436]

They should also be fined for putting other people's lives in danger and not complying with the law not to just close.

[@bonelabiyongo7999]

Why are the officials not taking those items because he is just going to sell them elsewhere.

[@Mokotjo783]

Pls make sure you round all Soweto 😢 special Mo mekhukhung , our kids are not save at all 🙏🙏

[@nondumisodhladhla1434]

I blame Government for not providing jobs to employ inspectors. Government needs to be held accountable. The blood of these children is on their hands. I live in Naledi and if there were inspectors this wouldn't have happened.

[@dalsiesaane5985]

We are in a situation because of ANC 😢

[@Ntuthu-ZA]

The hard working foreign nationals that get told by some in our country that we are lazy. How do we compete with criminality? Must we also sell expired items that delete the lives of children? 2:55 who is this young person to run a shop in our community? He looks 21 yrs old.

[@PricillaNzima]

ALWAYS COMPLAINING BUT DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO CHANGE THIS SITUATION. NEXT MONTH SAME PROBLEM

[@matshidisomarule5357]

These people don't know anything about Hygienic practice as this is Not practiced in their country of origin.

[@nomalungelongcete5875]

I don't think they checking of expiry dates will help It was said years ago that they have their own stamps and they remove the expired and put their own dates 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@nomfunekonosilela3895]

It's not many of them saying they don't mind, it's a lie

[@rittah8161]

They probably interviewed 2 people

[@greatmanmosia5559]

Everything lapho nje is not okay. Kanti kuncegwani vele

[@gamergirlGO101]

our SA people can also put up shop to support our communitys,,but there is rules and regulations,which they can ignore.

[@RoshanManilal]

Well done authorities, every community needs dignified service. I am so sad that these kids lost their lives because of someone's profit

[@dumirose9174]

Where were these inspectors? Before the innocent children die😢

[@RuthMadumo]

It's happening everywhere and just because people don't say anything doesn't mean it doesn't happen

[@LM-rg9lj]

Government is always reacting to circumstances..sad😢

[@KingdomKash]

I have 2 words for this mass. anc government

[@yalezwamalindi8278]

We really appreciate your action though it came in very late.Hope you continue with the inspections