Joburg Market Hosts Compliance Workshop for Tshiamo Market Traders

Following the success of its highly anticipated food safety compliance workshop, Joburg Market has extended the initiative to informal traders at Tshiamo Market. The workshop aimed to introduce and reinforce operating rules designed to ensure safety, order, compliance, and fair trade for all market users, including tenants, customers, and staff within the Tshiamo precinct.

Dumisani Ndiwa, a Facility Inspector at Joburg Market, emphasised the critical importance of food safety in daily operations. He stressed that traders must understand and adhere to food safety standards to prevent any risks to their customers’ health.

“Traders need to ensure cleanliness in their trading spaces, proper food storage, and safe handling of food to reduce the risk of customers falling ill,” said Ndiwa.

During the workshop, traders were provided with documents outlining the rules they must follow, as well as a tenant registration form. This form requires traders to detail what they are selling and the quantity of their stock, ensuring that all traders are registered, and their activities are monitored.

Ndiwa also shared valuable information regarding storage unit regulations.

“Storage refers to the cages where your stock is kept after trading hours. These cages must be cleaned regularly to ensure that food is stored in a hygienic environment. Importantly, these spaces should not be used for sleeping, laundry, or for storing anything other than fresh produce,” he clarified.

Several general trading rules were also outlined for the traders. These include a strict no-smoking policy inside Tshiamo Market, a requirement for tenants to be registered with Joburg Market, a ban on bringing animals into the trading area, and the prohibition of sitting, lying, or standing on fresh produce.

Ndiwa also made it clear that non-compliance would result in penalties.

“The registered tenant in charge of the storage units who violates the operating rules outlined in the document will be guilty of an offence and subject to a penalty as specified in the market by-laws. A compliance notice will also be issued for any contravention of these rules,” Ndiwa concluded.

The workshop was an essential step in educating and empowering informal traders at Tshiamo Market on the importance of food safety and market compliance. By adhering to these operating rules, traders can contribute to a safer and more organised market environment, benefiting both their businesses and the health of their customers