The Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) confiscated hazardous and counterfeit goods during a by-laws enforcement operation in Silverton on Monday, 3 March 2026.
Officers conducted inspections at several local shops to ensure compliance with the City of Tshwane’s municipal regulations. During the operation, members issued a number of Section 57 notices to business owners who were found to be non-compliant with health and safety standards.
Several expired food items, counterfeit products and other unsafe goods were seized from the stores. Authorities said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure businesses operate within the law.
TMPD officers entered one of the inspected shops and checked the shelves stocked with groceries and other household items. A police vehicle was also parked at the entrance of the premises while officials carried out their duties.
The department urged business owners to regularly check expiry dates and ensure all products meet required safety standards. Officials warned that failure to comply with city bylaws may result in further enforcement actions, including fines and confiscation of goods.
Meanwhile, Silverton resident Zakhe Mlotshwa welcomed the operation, saying stronger oversight is needed to protect vulnerable communities.
“My take is that organisations like the National Consumer Commission and Environmental Health Practitioners should do thorough work to protect consumers, especially in villages and townships. We often find expired goods being sold in tuckshops, and we end up getting sick from them. Bilateral laws must be applied, and those who are found to be selling expired goods must face the law’s course,” he said.
A similar stance was echoed by the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane, Dr Nasiphi Moya, as reported in the media, during a municipal operation on 26 January 2025. She emphasised that by-law enforcement operations aim to protect public health and ensure businesses comply with regulations, stating that the city would not tolerate practices that put consumers at risk.
However, a local tuck shop owner, Agustin Moyo, said small business owners should not always be blamed for expired stock.
“We, as small business owners, cannot always be blamed because we buy stock believing and being told that it is in good condition. I also personally check the expiry dates on my stock to ensure it is safe to use. We have no intention of breaking the rules or harming the community,” he said.
The TMPD said it remains committed to maintaining public safety and enforcing municipal regulations across Silverton and the surrounding areas.