The Greater Kokstad Municipality (GKM), in collaboration with several governmental and law enforcement agencies, intensified efforts to regulate spaza shops in the region. A recent joint departmental inspection campaign, led by His Worship the Mayor, Cllr. Lwanda Madikizela targeted 12 spaza shops in Shayamoya, Horseshoe, and Extension 7. The operation uncovered serious violations, including the sale of expired goods, lack of proper permits, and breaches of fire safety regulations.

The inspection campaign was conducted by a dedicated GKM team, in partnership with the South African Police Services (SAPS), the KZN Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, the Harry Gwala District Municipality, the Home Affairs Emigration Unit, Environmental Health officials, and local law enforcement.

Key findings from the inspections included:

· Confiscation of illegal cigarettes (contraband).

· Disposal of expired food items, including chips.

· Arrests of seven individuals by the Emigration Unit for contravening the Emigration Act.

· Issuance of fines for non-compliance with business licensing and safety regulations.

These measures aim to ensure that spaza shops operate responsibly and within the bounds of the law.

Speaking about the operation, Mayor Madikizela emphasized the importance of adhering to local laws and regulations. “Many of these spaza shops are operated by foreign nationals, some of whom are in our country illegally due to expired asylum seeker permits,” he said.

He added, “This operation is not just about enforcement—it’s about protecting you, the residents of Greater Kokstad. Businesses must operate responsibly, and compliance is non-negotiable”.

The Mayor also highlighted the role of property owners who lease out sections of their homes to spaza shop operators. “We urge residents to ensure that their properties are registered and compliant with building control regulations and with the local economic development departments compliance requirements,” he said. Non-compliance could result in fines or shutdowns, added the Mayor.

The urgency of these inspections is underscored by the ongoing efforts by the Municipality and exacerbated by recent national concerns over food safety. The tragic death of 23 children and nearly 900 food poisoning cases linked to spaza shops have drawn significant attention to the issue. President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed this crisis, noting that over 200,000 spaza shops have been inspected nationwide, resulting in the closure of more than 1000 non-compliant businesses.

Mayor Madikizela supported the President's statements and reiterated the municipality’s support for entrepreneurship and the informal sector, stating, “We encourage businesses to open as they boost the local economy. However, these businesses must comply with regulations to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents.”

The inspection campaign is a crucial step towards fostering a safe and thriving community. By addressing violations and promoting awareness, the municipality aims to create a business environment that benefits all stakeholders.

The GKM team remains steadfast in its mission to uphold high standards for local businesses. For further information or to report violations, residents can contact the Greater Kokstad Municipality directly.

By Kamvalethu Xhelithole

The GKM Law Enforcement department, in collaboration with the South African Tyre Manufacturing Conference (SATMC) and the Road Accident Fund, recently hosted a two-day 'Tyre and Road Safety Workshop' at the Kokstad Town Hall. This vital initiative drew participants from various municipal law enforcement departments across the Harry Gwala District and several RTI traffic units from KwaZulu-Natal.

The workshop aimed to educate stakeholders on critical aspects of tyre safety. It focused on the dangers associated with using second-hand tyres, identifying the expiration date of a tyre, understanding tyre treads, and the importance of regular tyre maintenance. Furthermore, the partnership sought to underscore the significance of tyre safety legislation and its enforcement within the law enforcement fraternity.

On the second day of the workshop, officers took to the streets to conduct roadside tyre safety checks, demonstrating tyre safety practices to drivers and highlighting the crucial role tyres play in ensuring vehicle safety and control. Tyres, being the vehicle's first point of contact with the road surface, are essential for safe driving, making tyre safety a top priority for all motorists.

The session also focused on educating officers and vehicle owners about the dangers of driving with partly worn-out tyres. The goal was to raise awareness about proper tyre

maintenance and the hazards of using illegal or unsafe second-hand tyres. This was to ensure that all road users were aware of these dangers which was a pivotal step towards reducing accidents and enhancing overall road safety.

Participants of the workshop received Tyre and Road Safety training certificates upon completion, acknowledging their commitment to tyre safety and equipping them with the knowledge to enforce tyre safety regulations effectively.

This initiative reflects the GKM Law Enforcement department's dedication to promoting road safety and preventing accidents caused by tyre-related issues. By partnering with SATMC and the Road Accident Fund, the department is taking significant steps towards fostering a culture of safety and responsibility among both law enforcement officers and the general public.

By Kamvalethu Xhelithole

....A new number 0800 701 701 for whistle-blowers operated by CoGTA has also been launched...

FRAUD and corruption workshop meant to educate residents about the dangers of embezzling public funds has yielded the desired outcomes as it outlined the ramifications of such criminal acts leaving some community members of the town to only fear the consequences but also struck civic duty to play their role in reporting these activities. 

This was after the arrival of a marked Hawks vehicle at the Greater Kokstad Municipality building, the Town Hall, which sparked fear and talks within the municipality buildings as to who was going to be jailed on the day.

However, in this case, the Hawks were invited to be part of the workshop to educate communities about the dangers of fraud and corruption and how it affects the entire society in hindering service delivery. 

But the key point was to educate the society to ensure they form part of a fight against corruption by reporting and preventing any elements of fraud that may seek to rear their ugly heads.  

Furthermore, this is the Greater Kokstad Municipality’s stance in the battle to prevent any elements of corruption, which has seen one senior official axed from the institution for alleged bribery.

The event was in line with launching the Anti-Fraud toll-free number 0800 701 701, which is operated nationally by the Department of Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA).

This is one Municipality rated number in the province in handling the public purse and refusing to risk its corruption-free free track-record, which is in accordance with its mandate of delivering services to the community.

Despite the unpleasant start to the event, the Greater Kokstad Municipality Mayor, Councillor MNL Madikikizela confirmed to have received messages from worried people questioning the presence of the Hawks in the Municipality premises.

“I calmed them down to say they were attending the Municipality workshop that sought to uproot elements of corruption and to empower members of the community and stakeholders with pertinent knowledge about fraud and corruption,” said Cllr Madikizela.

He said they fully understand the buzz caused because in many instances Hawks do not come with a smile instead, they always catch the untouchables and deal with serious cases involving embezzling large sums of money.

“However, in our case, we did not have to be worried as we all know that we have nothing to hide and the issue of ethics becomes the primary objective in our institution,” said Cllr Madikizela.

He added the main purpose of the day was to fight crime and corruption since it is a known fact that in many cases corruption robs services delivery programmes of the government meant for communities. 

He said corruption presents a major threat to economic growth, it steals from the poor, drains the resources and undermines public trust. “It is the reason why we are always committed to zero tolerance approach against fraud and corruption,” said Cllr Madikizela.

Evident in their stance in the fight against corruption, they developed policies and documents to be adopted in the 2024-2025 financial year such as a fraud prevention and anti-corruption policy/plan, fraud risk register, and whistleblowing plan to assure residents that Greater Kokstad is a zero-tolerance Municipality.

He encouraged members of the public to report anonymously any acts of corruption assuring them that the recently launched whistle-blowing strategy is more sophisticated than the previously launched one where some whistle-blowers felt unprotected since it was operated locally.

“This one is operated elsewhere where we do not know and a whistleblower will be dealing with people s/he does not know,” said Cllr Madikizela.

He said as they are starting a new financial year, they want to work as a collective under the theme “GKM rooting out fraud and corruption” so that corruption should smell unpleasantly in Kokstad

Cllr Madikizela said measures against corruption will be taken against everyone from the junior to senior officials. Members from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and Hawks led by Brigadier Shezi, Mduduzi Mlotshwa and Bongani Khuzwayo from the office of the KwaZulu Natal Premier presented their roles and how the community could work with Municipalities and Government to end corruption. 

By Andile Moshoeshoe

The Greater Kokstad Municipal Manager, Mr Sipho Zwane has appealed for more of a buzz from local sports. Stating that more enthusiasm from formal structures representing various sports codes and clubs or forums of the sport would reap positive rewards and the local sporting demands and challenges would be met.

Mr Zwane spoke openly pledging his support at Zanzibar Guesthouse, during a local coaching workshop, attended by Harry Gwala SAFA as well as the district’s Sports Arts and Culture sub-directorate.

He said as much as they want to promote and play a pivotal role in the local sport as part of taking a black child away from the streets, the current sporting activities are not buzzing in Kokstad: "They are just quiet while there is a lot we can do with sport as we have stars coming from Kokstad". 

“In many instances, some people will think we are against helping sporting programmes but that is not the case instead they come to us at the 11^th hour, making it difficult to offer a helping hand as it is a known fact that everything we do in the institution should be according to book and as per guiding policies and legislations,” said Mr Zwane.  

Mr Zwane a staunch Orlando Pirates supporter himself said sport is in his heart, which by “default” shares the love for his team with the netball sporting code due to his two daughters who have become shining stars in this fraternity.

He said he was also encouraged by the Harry Gwala Netball, which has made its name countrywide by winning gold medals and representing the district all over the country.

“What is making me proud is the fact that most players in the Harry Gwala Netball are from Shayamoya in Kokstad,” said Mr Zwane.

He added that sport is very necessary because it brings with it discipline and that contributes positively to the fight against crime.

Mr Zwane said they need to promote sport and celebrate the role played by great players of Kokstad such as Leornard “Shoes” Gregory so that their legacy should be archived for the younger generations.

“As much as they will celebrate the likes of the national stars in football like Doctor Khumalo but we should also beam into focus those from Kokstad to similar levels,” said Mr Zwane.

He encouraged SAFA’s John Motsa’s enthusiasm in sport to never end but everything should be well prepared according to the formal structures of sport.

Motsa and Gregory conveyed their gratitude to the Municipal Manager for pledging and intending to grow and shine a sport light on local sport. 

By Andile Moshoeshoe