NOUPOORT NEWS - Food outlets in Noupoort are up and running again, but only after being closed for six days by the Pixley Ka Seme District Municipality, costing them thousands of rand.
The Pixley Ka Seme District Municipality is situated in De Aar.
The shutdown followed after health inspectors from the district municipality conducted an inspection of all food outlets in town on 13 November. The inspectors required food acceptability certificates from owners and pointed out shortcomings in contravention of food health regulations.
Chaos broke out as the inspectors closed all but one of the town's food outlets and grocery stores, the Oasis Kafee.
On the main road, Piet Retief Road, about seven shops were closed, with all the spaza shops, restaurants and even the Christian Care Centre's Railway Institute Restaurant kept under lock and key.
Courtnay Stassen of Shorty's Supermarket, told the Advertiser that the municipality phoned on 18 November to say they can reopen and continue with business as usual.
Stassen said the health inspectors, however, told shop owners that at the end of November the identified shortcomings must be fixed to comply with the health regulations. "They told us they will come and do a follow-up inspection," Stassen explained.
Stassen said none of the shops were aware of the needed certification on the day of the clamp down. She said they would have obtained it, had they known. She described the process as unfair. "To close all businesses without warning or a chance to sort out the issue, is not just bad for business, but a huge inconvenience to customers."
Stassen said she felt extremely sorry for the people of Noupoort. "Lots of them were left without food, as they have accounts with us and no money to buy elsewhere. Most are not in a position to jump in a car and drive to the next town."
The Advertiser asked the municipal communications manager, Beatrice Bosch, for comment on 13 and 14 November. "I will comment as time allows it," she said.
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