More business raids for Bitou

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Kwanokuthula businesses are next in line as Bitou Municipality and other roleplayers take a zero tolerance stance to establishments posing risks to local communities.

This follows successful raids on businesses across Bitou since last weekend. The latest took place in Plettenberg Bay's Central Business District and New Horizons on Tuesday and Wednesday, 22 and 23 August.

During the operation food items, which expired more than four years ago and some with no expiry dates, were confiscated.

Before this, Wittedrift, Kranshoek and the Crags came under the spotlight. Among others, an alleged illegal tavern owner was arrested and thousands of rands worth of alcohol was confiscated.

The tavern was operating without a legal permit. In Witterdrift, expired food items including baby food, soft drinks, chips and spices were confiscated and sent to the Bitou transfer site.

Senior Inspector Xolani Bangela (Bitou Law Enforcement) said all shop owners around Bitou should be warned. "We are not toying with the health of our residents," Bangela said.

"We are planning on going to more areas as this is a widespread problem. Our next operation will be in Kwanokuthula where we will visit all the phases one-by-one as there are over 50 businesses operating in the area." Bitou Speaker Claude Terblanche, who joined the operations, lauded the team saying that their officials were putting residents first.

Bitou law enforcement officers check expiration dates on goods during local business raids over the past two weeks.