Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Phemelo Tabile and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL. See attached picture here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Metsimaholo will take action to stop illegal spaza shops operating near schools in Sasolburg, following concerns from educators and parents that were previously ignored by the municipality. These shops, left unregulated, pose a direct threat to learners’ safety, well-being, and academic performance.
Following an oversight with the school’s management and Deputy Principal, Joel de Lange, it came to our attention that the school has been seeking intervention from the municipality with no success. The DA will therefore step in.
These unregulated businesses not only undermine compliance with municipal by-laws, but they also pose a serious risk to learners. The DA has received reports and strong suspicions that some of these shops are supplying harmful substances to learners, directly threatening their safety, well-being, and academic performance.
As part of our oversight duties, the DA has engaged with school stakeholders and community members who have raised alarms about the negative impact these spaza shops are having on the discipline and prospects of learners.
The DA will continue to take action to curb the spread of illegal spaza shops by:
- Reporting these concerns to law enforcement agencies and municipal officials for urgent intervention.
- Holding the Metsimaholo Municipality accountable for enforcing by-laws and shutting down non-compliant businesses.
- Advocating for stronger partnerships between schools, community policing forums, and the police to safeguard learners.
- Monitoring progress and reporting back to the community to ensure transparency and accountability.
We firmly believe that illegal and harmful business practices must never compromise the future of our learners.
I have already notified the MMC, Lefa Nhlapho, about the situation, and action will be taken in due time.
We urge the municipality and law enforcement to act promptly to ensure that the environment around our schools remains safe and conducive to learning.