CHDM seizes meat in CBD
Komani hawkers concerned over their livelihood
RAW meat prepared and sold on the streets of Komani was confiscated from hawkers on Wednesday morning by the Chris Hani District Municipality as part of a public health campaign in the central business district.
The inspectors were accompanied by members of the Komani police.
An inspector who spoke to the hawkers said they were selling raw meat out in the open air without taking hygienic storage into account.
“We have been telling you about this for a long time. This is not allowed, but you do not listen. We have been lenient with you, we are not against you running a business, but this is a health hazard.”
Hawkers begged the officials to give their meat back as it was being loaded on to a bakkie.
Hawker Sdudla Matshaya claimed they were not given any reasons for the seizures.
“They did not tell us anything about why we can not sell meat here. I have been selling cow heads for 15 years in this area and we have never been told that this is not allowed.”
Thobeka Loni said selling the meat was her livelihood and she had managed to provide for her three children for the past 30 years by selling meat in various areas of the town.
“I have been selling tripe for all these years and I managed to send my children to school with the money. I do not understand why they can just come out of nowhere and take our meat like this.”
Nombulelo Nkwanca said when the hawkers tried to follow up the matter with the officials at the municipality, they could not find out the whereabouts of the confiscated meat.
“We are not fighting with them. We respect the municipality but all we want is our meat. We could not sell anything. We have found a house from where we can prepare the meat, so we will stop working from the street.”
CHDM spokeswoman Thobeka Mqamelo said the confiscated meat had been disposed of at a landfill site.
“The environmental health practitioners, as part of their daily duties and legal requirements, must monitor all premises where food is prepared or served. During their inspection, they unearthed activities that were in contravention with the set by-laws.”
She said the hawkers did not comply with health standards and that they had been warned and taken through an awareness campaign about their practice.
“Livestock is slaughtered in town and not on approved premises. The related spilling of blood caused pollution and attracted flies, resulting in an unhygienic environment and a consequent health hazard,” she said.
Mqamelo said the municipality would take action when illegal practices were carried out despite regulations. “The Meat Safety Act prescribes that slaughtering and preparation of meat should be done on approved premises.”