WATCH | NCC warns of gaps in spaza shop product recalls

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Township consumers could remain exposed to unsafe and recalled products if manufacturers and suppliers failed to ensure recall notices reached spaza shops, the National Consumer Commission (NCC) has warned.

The commission is calling for stronger communication channels between manufacturers, suppliers and township retailers to ensure recalled products are removed from shelves and returned, as is routinely done by major retail chains.

The warning was issued during the Gauteng Spaza Supplier Connect Conference, held in Fourways on Tuesday.

National Consumer Commission head of complaints and investigations Prudence Moilwa consumers in townships remain exposed to unsafe products that have been recalled if manufacturers and suppliers fail to ensure recall notices reach spaza shops. Moilwa says the commission wants… pic.twitter.com/gxQqOHKl02

The one-day conference, organised by CaMedia, brought spaza shop owners from across Gauteng for training on compliance, funding opportunities, business growth and direct engagement with suppliers.

NCC head of complaints and investigations Prudence Moilwa said the commission wanted spaza shop owners to organise themselves into groups to improve communication with regulators and suppliers.

“We have been requiring them to do it, but not at the level at which we can be able to say how many spaza shops have you supplied and how many have returned the product,” she said.

Moilwa said consumers who buy products from spaza shops face the same risks as those shopping at larger retailers when unsafe goods enter the market.

“The networks that we need to build with other shop owners should be the same as the network that is built with the suppliers in the mainstream,” she said.

The aim is to ensure traders can report safety concerns and receive recall notices so affected stock can be removed from shelves.

“We want to also make sure that those channels are recorded and monitored for effectiveness,” said Moilwa.

The NCC has been conducting raids at shops around the country to ensure compliance.

She added that spaza shop owners needed to work closely with suppliers and manufacturers to ensure recalled products were returned regardless of where they were sold.

The issue of product safety has come under renewed scrutiny after the deaths of children in Naledi, Soweto, prompting authorities to intensify warnings to traders about unsafe products and poor business practices.

CaMedia MD Ntsako Lepere said the conference was created in response to concerns raised by spaza shop owners who felt their challenges were often overlooked.

According to Lepere, compliance and access to funding are the biggest challenges facing traders.

“Spaza shops need this space. They need this space empowered with knowledge to grow their businesses, improve compliance and get to a point where they can apply for funding,” he said.

Lepere said many traders were unaware that funding was available from commercial banks, private organisations and other institution,s in addition to government support programmes.

National department of health environmental health inspector Aneliswa Cele urged business owners to prioritise public health over profit.

“Business shouldn’t be about profit. It should be about public health. When your environment is safe for everyone, be it for kids or the community you are serving, the profit will generate itself,” she said.

Cele said the investigation into the Naledi deaths identified terbufos, a highly dangerous chemical, in the children’s stomach contents. Investigators also found traces of the substance in a plastic packet recovered from one of the children.

She said the incident highlighted the importance of proper waste management and maintaining clean premises to prevent health risks.

“What we are advocating for as you run your business, please ensure that you manage your waste correctly,” Cele said.

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