“NOT ON OUR SHELVES!”

Thabazimbi/ Northam – The Thabazimbi Local Municipality, through its local economic development unit, led a collaborative operation on Wednesday, 19 March 2025, targeting food safety violations in Northam.

The operation saw the combined efforts of the Waterberg District Health inspectors, South African Police Service (SAPS), the Limpopo Department of Local Economic Development, Environment & Tourism, Community Police Forums (CPF), private security companies, and other key stakeholders. 

Their mission? To ensure food sold to residents meets health and safety standards — and to prevent dangerous food poisoning incidents.

Environmental health practitioners carried out inspections at various food-handling premises, uncovering serious concerns. A shocking 88 kilograms of unfit and unsafe food products were identified, removed from shop shelves, and promptly disposed of at the Thabazimbi Landfill Site. 

Two Spaza shops were also temporarily shut down and served with probation letters for failing to comply with basic food safety regulations.

Photo: Officials conducted an inspection at one of the local shops — prioritising community health at grassroots level.