EThekwini Deputy Mayor Councillor Zandile Myeni led a business compliance blitz in the South Beach and Mahatma Gandhi Road vicinity.

ETHEKWINI Deputy Mayor Councillor Zandile Myeni led a business blitz operation in the South Beach and
Mahatma Gandhi Road vicinity recently. The blitz saw multi stakeholder teams inspecting both formal and informal traders to ensure they are adhering to safety and health regulations. Food outlets, spaza shops, and liquor stores were visited. “The blitz inspected compliance with business regulations and policies. It was appalling to find several
business owners selling expired food items,” said Councillor Myeni. 

Of the businesses inspected, the following contraventions were discovered:
• Expired food items
• Illegal manufacturing of sim cards
• Unconducive working environments 
• Two arrests for failure to produce citizen documentation
• A fake business and liquor licence 
• Two outlets were successfully closed due to non-compliance.

Councillor Myeni was accompanied by Whip of the Community Safety Committee Councillor Sibusiso Mpanza,
Metro Police Commissioner Sibonelo Mchunu and Metro Police Offi cers, eThekwini Health, and the Business
Support Unit. “This operation was extremely important to enforce our by-laws. It was also highly successful. The commitment displayed by our stakeholder units is evidence of the City’s efforts to hold businesses accountable for their operations,” she added. Meanwhile, the Health Unit conducted a weeklong operation in Inanda to ensure businesses comply with health and safety regulations. A livestock selling business situated in the Mtshebheni area of Inanda was fined following the discovery of unauthorised slaughtering of animals for human consumption at an
unapproved premises.

The blitz involves various City departments, including the Metro Police, Fire Department, Business Licensing, and the Cleansing and Solid Waste Unit. The campaign aims to assess local businesses’ adherence to health and safety regulations.