City’s festive season safety
plans announced
Gugu
Mdlalose
Durban
is open for business and remains Africa’s playground reiterated eThekwini Mayor
Councillor Cyril Xaba when he launched the City’s festive season management plan
recently at uShaka Marine World.
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| Launching this year's festive season management plan, eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba said the Metro Police is working with various law enforcement agencies to maintain high visibility at all tourism sites and areas that have been identified as crime hotspots. Picture: THULI DLAMINI |
While
holidaymakers have already started to arrive in eThekwini, the City has curated
an exceptional line-up of events and experiences that perfectly blend its
pristine beaches, lively nightlife, and rich cultural heritage.
As
part of delivering a safe and memorable festive season, Mayor Xaba said the Metro
Police is working with law enforcement agencies including the South African
Police Service, the Road Traffic Inspectorate, and private security companies
to maintain high visibility at all tourism sites and areas that have been identified
as crime hotspots. This is a strategic collaboration between the City and
private tourism stakeholders with the unwavering support of the Presidential
eThekwini Working Group (PeWG).
Mayor
Cyril Xaba said road safety is a key component of ensuring a peaceful and
joyful holiday season.
“Our
law enforcement officers will clamp down on drinking and driving as well as
reckless behaviour on roads. Law enforcement operations, including
multidisciplinary roadblocks, will be conducted throughout the City to combat
all forms of criminality. To control traffic on the beach, certain roads
leading to the beachfront will be access controlled. The park and ride facility
will be available at no cost every 30 minutes throughout the festive season,”
he said.
As
part of heightened security, an additional 500 new Metro Police officers fresh
from training will be deployed to increase police visibility both on the road
and in communities. This comes as the City recently procured over 170 high
performance vehicles for the Metro Police to patrol.
Mayor
Xaba said other specialised units will be on horsebacks and bicycles at various
tourism sites, assisted by CCTV camera monitoring and surveillance.
In
terms of beach safety, for the easy identification of children, the City has
procured 200 000 armbands with seven tents erected along the beachfront to
accommodate children who get separated from their parents. A overnight facility
for separated children has also been secured.
“In
addition, the City is finalising the recruitment of 540 seasonal workers who
will be deployed to various tourist destinations. These include 135 litter
pickers and 104 beach guides who will be stationed across the various City
beaches to help visitors. An additional 105 pool attendants will be deployed in
various swimming pools to ensure the safety of bathers,” Mayor Xaba added.
He
said the City will continue to monitor and conduct weekly assessment of beach
water quality, highlighting that there are also over 40 swimming pools open in
various parts of the City for the public to enjoy.
“We
are confident of bumper festive season this December and visitors must be
assured that apart from beaches, there are many other attractions and hidden
germs throughout the City,” Mayor Xaba concluded.
Beach
water quality status can be viewed on www.durban.gov.za/BeachStatus
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Spaza shop registration blitz amid ongoing citywide tuckshop inspections
Zimbili Mazibuko
To
ensure full compliance with national regulations, eThekwini Mayor Councillor
Cyril Xaba is spearheading on-site tuck-shop registrations blitz across the
City. As the national campaign to ensure tuck-shop compliance gains momentum,
the City is urging tuck-shop owners to register their businesses ahead of the 13
December deadline set by national government. The City has been inundated with
enquiries from tuck-shop owners eager to comply with the registration
requirements. To address these concerns, workshops led by the City’s Business
Licensing Unit have already visited UuMazi and KwaMashu, with a planned visit
to Magaba Community Hall in Hammarsdale scheduled for 12 December.
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| The City's health teams during a spaza shop inspection as part of ongoing efforts to ensure compliance. Picture: NANDI NGIDI |
The
registration blitz are taking place parallel to the ongoing inspections by the City’s
Health Unit’s teams as they are actively conducting workshops to educate
business owners on the legal requirements for food premises, including spaza
shops. A recent joint workshop, led by the Health Unit and Business Support
Unit in the Nazareth area, attracted over 100 business owners and landlords.
The session, which focused on the legal requirements for food premises, was
lauded as highly informative by attendees. Most spaza shops were found selling
expired food items, illegal cigarettes, illegal pesticides, counterfeit foods
and had a lack of proper food storage and hand and dishwashing facilities. At
some spaza shops, owners were found to be sleeping inside their business
premises.
Acting
Head of Health Dr. Phelelani Sosibo, highlighted the extensive efforts of the
teams visiting various subdistricts to provide crucial compliance information
to spaza shop owners and tenants. “Our Environmental Health Practitioners are
diligently conducting law enforcement inspections of tuck-shops in both townships
and suburbs. They are also verifying food item labels to ensure supplier
details are visible and expiry dates are current, confirming the food is safe
for consumption. Some tuck-shops have been fined for operating without business
licenses and for not having fire extinguishers,” said Sosibo.
Sosibo
said it is important that the public know their rights and take precautions to
ensure their safety when purchasing food products. The teams are also visiting
schools to educate school children and vendors on food safety requirements.
Recent visits to Wyebank Primary School and Ekujabuleni Primary in KwaDabeka
township included surveys with school vendors to assess their knowledge of food
labeling and to gather information about their product suppliers.
The
City’s proactive measures are not only aimed at ensuring compliance but also at
enhancing food safety standards across eThekwini. As the 13 December deadline
approaches, tuck-shop owners are encouraged to register to avoid penalties and
contribute to a safer food environment for all residents.
The
public is requested to familiarise themselves with the following regulations:
Best
Before: Applies to foods that do not require refrigeration (canned goods, rice,
pasta, cereal, biscuits)
Sell
By: Applies to the date by which it should leave the store, but will still be
safe for a reasonable period after.
Use
By: Generally, applies to meat, dairy or any other product that requires
refrigeration.
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