THE Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) on Tuesday, 5 September, shutdown an illegal meat processing plant in Petit area that was violating city's by-laws and environmental health laws.
According to EMPD police spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Kelebogile Thepa, their members responded to an anonymous complaint of air pollution, unclean food production and keeping of livestock at a plot on Rooikat Street in Petit district.
"When officers arrived, they found a serious lack of proper hygiene practises, slaughtered animal intestines stored in a dug hole resulting in a toxic smell, and no acceptance certificate, no trading permit, and no proper zoning to operate such a business on the property.
"When our members continued with the investigation, it was established that the business producing pork sausages and boerewors products, was in contravention of multiple municipal by-laws and environmental health laws."
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She said the officers immediately shutdown the operation of the business and called in the Environmental Health Department to initiate legal proceedings against the shop owner and issue a summons.
Thepa said the EMPD encourages business owners to contact relevant departments, such as the Economic Development Department and Environmental Health Department, for assistance in complying with the regulations to operate their businesses legally.
