The residents accused the shop owner of selling them food past its best and demanded that all the groceries from the tuck shops be thrown away.

Thabo Modisakeng told Health-e News that they had discovered that a shop that was full of old stock.

“We’ve been complaining to the authorities about the shops in our areas but we were not given attention. Today, we decided to act ourselves and inspected all the expiry dates in the store and almost everything was rotten,” said Modisakeng.

Customers refused entry

Another community member, Lindiwe Masakala, added: “We have realised that the shelves were full with expired stock and ever since we notified the owner, he hasn’t allowed us to enter the store. We may only buy standing at the door”.

Masakala said they’d be checking all the stock in all the stores to ensure people don’t buy rotten food.

The community has since given the shop owner three days to replace the stock and demanded the shop remains closed.

Police fortunately arrived on the scene before the community could take the law into their own hands and have threatened to shut the store if the owner fails to bring new stock.

Speaking from behind the police van, Hassan Silasi from Ethiopia admitted that some stock had expired.

“I’d like to say sorry to the community and will bring new stock,” he said.

People of Botshabelo and surrounding areas, be careful of this store. Y’all know it, it just next old ‘KFC’ at our complex. They’re selling an expired food. They sold my old man who is a pensioner a hamper full of expired stuff, reasoning with them bear no fruits..White tendency. pic.twitter.com/MR6vKEMnv8

— May 30th (@ThabisoMokhoth9) February 10, 2021

In February, the Free State MEC for Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Mr Makalo Petrus Mohale, along with his inspectors, turned most shops upside down searching for expired and fake goods. He promised to take the matter further but is yet to do anything about the situation.

Spokesperson for the Mangaung Metro, Qondile Khedama, said; “ It is the right of the consumers to search if they suspect they are being sold rotten food. Our inspectors will be dispatched to all towns within the metro to search for expired stock and permits.”

It is believed a large majority of shops owned by foreigners in Botshableo are either selling expired groceries or fake goods. – Health-e News