The North West premier on Monday (6/11) forms part of a raid of different outlets owned by foreign nationals.

Premier Nono Maloyi, flanked by his MEC for Economic Development, Virginia Tlhapi, raided several shops in the Ganyesa-based Kagisano Molopo Local Municipality for business compliance. The departmental spokesperson, Jeremiah Matebesi, said during the inspection, the vigilant team uncovered startling business practices across 13 tuck shops, from vendors sleeping on the job to poor hygiene standards and non-compliance with price displays. 

Raids were conducted at many tuck shops in the province to check their business compliance. Picture supplied

Matebesi said the team uncovered the sale of expired and improperly labelled goods as well as the selling of unverified products. The raid by Maloyi and Tlhapi comes after reports of children who died after allegedly eating items from foreign-owned shops.

“Municipal Health Inspectors, upholding the highest regulatory standards, condemned non-compliant products valued at R20,000. Two tuck shops faced temporary closure until they met the compliance requirements outlined in the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act and Municipal By-laws. Additionally, the Department of Home Affairs (Immigration unit) apprehended nine foreign nationals with expired passports or lacking essential asylum and refugee documents,” Matebesi said.

The North West Gambling Board (NWGB) is also said to have seized two illegal Bingo Merry Roulette gambling machines during this operation.

“The enforcement inspection also extended to liquor outlets, where six out of seven outlets were found in breach of the Liquor Act 27 of 1989. These outlets violated various sections, including the unlawful rental of licenses, failure to keep a license in the outlet licensed premises, and also to maintain bona fide restaurants as per the condition of the license. The team issued fines amounting to R10,500  to all non-compliant liquor outlets,” Matebesi added.

OFM News/Lucky Nkuyane Daphné/Corné