Spring-clean for Tshwane

FRESH PRODUCE MARKET: A HEALTH HAZARD AFTER YEARS OF FILTH

But agents are still worried about longterm maintenance.

The City of Tshwane has appointed a service provider to deep cleanse its Tshwane Fresh Produce Market where years of filth and grime have become a health hazard.

Moneyweb reported in July that big buyers, including Food Lover’s Market, had stopped buying produce from the market due to the filth and state of disrepair.

This despite the market generating R12.5 million–R15 million per month for the city through commission on all produce sold.

Linda Jackson, director at consultancy Food Focus SA, says although recent research has shown the probability of an outbreak of listeriosis due to the filth to be smaller than earlier thought, the impact in the case of the market would be huge.

It is the second biggest of its kind in SA. It links farmers from all over the country to consumers, including those in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Although the City of Tshwane has refused to answer any of Moneyweb’s questions about the intervention, we’ve established some progress has been made.

The number of workers sweeping the trading floors has been increased and a street-sweeping machine goes through the market daily. Storm-water drains have been cleaned, and big waste skips are being emptied daily.

Most potholes have been fixed, the lights and generators have been repaired, and the grass has been cut.

During a visit to the market this week, Julian van der Nat, speaking on behalf of agents active at the market, showed Moneyweb that conditions in the watermelon section, where the general repairs started, have already improved markedly. It was clear security has been upped, but there was still no strict access control and the premises is still filthy.

Cleaning company Babore Gauteng will start deep cleaning the market on Monday, including the walls, ceilings and light fittings, currently covered in cobwebs. It will use solutions that will deter spiders, rats and mice in future.

Van der Nat says while the industry appreciates the effort, it’s concerned about the market’s long-term maintenance. “This cannot be a once-off. You have to follow it up with a regular programme of cleaning.”

Moneyweb has established the Babore contract is only for six months, but has been told the city is busy procuring long-term cleaning services.

During our visit we noted that the fire hydrants were last serviced in 2015. Some are situated in areas designated to market agents who lock the gates to their sections after trading hours. Thus these hydrants wouldn’t be accessible in a fire.

We’ve learnt that the city has, however, completed a fire audit and will start replacing fire hydrants by the end of the month.

We also established that the rodent stations were last serviced in 2014, when the contract of the previous service provider ended. It’s not clear whether this will be addressed.

Van der Nat also expressed his concern about the market’s lack of occupational health and safety measures.

It will use solutions that will deter spiders, rats and mice