Residents guzzle expired dumped beverages

By Emily Setona

QWAQWA — A recent incident near Mpatlalatsana Bridge in Qwaqwa, where abandoned cases of expired cold drinks were collected by local community members, has sparked significant concern over the improper disposal of expired goods and public health risks in the area.

According to Thabo Mofokeng, an employee at MVC Hardware in Mpatlalatsana, the incident began when he witnessed two men unloading cases of cold drinks and leaving them unattended. Later, a young man noticed the crates and mistakenly assumed a truck had overturned, prompting him to inform others. Word spread quickly, and locals gathered to collect the drinks.

“It’s extremely worrying to see this happening, people are consuming these expired drinks without knowing the dangers, which include serious health issues.” Mofokeng said.

The Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality (TMDM) Municipal Health Services Unit has since responded, revealing that they learned of the incident through a video clip circulating on social media. The video reportedly shows the expired soft drinks being disposed of incorrectly at an illegal dumpsite. TMDM’s Environmental Health Practitioners (EHP) have launched an investigation, as the site is known to them, to verify facts and obtain statements from witnesses to help trace the source of the waste. The generator of this waste has allegedly violated municipal by-laws and national legislation that provide guidelines on the disposal of expired foods.

As stated by TMDM’s communication manager, Mamogolo Moshugi, “There are clear guidelines for disposing of expired foods, communicated to all food premises through awareness campaigns over the years. The procedure is simple: anyone needing to dispose of expired foods must contact environmental health officials at their local district municipality office. EHPs will then monitor the entire disposal process, from the storage location to the approved landfill site. Once completed, a disposal certificate with a detailed list of the products is issued to the owner as proof that the items were properly disposed of.”

Dumped cool drinks retrieved by community members under Mpatlalatsana bridge.

These regulations are designed to protect communities from accidental access to expired or unsafe foods, prevent legal issues for the waste generators, and ensure safety for landfill recyclers. To prevent further issues, TMDM has also developed a Food Safety Blitz Operational Plan, endorsed by the District Joint Operation Stakeholders and presented to the Provincial Joint Operation Forum. The plan aims to conduct intensive Food Safety Blitzes across all towns in the district, with an emphasis on public awareness.

Additionally, TMDM plans to increase education campaigns via local community radio, aiming to inform residents about the health risks of consuming expired goods and the role of the district municipality in managing such issues. Community members are urged not to consume, reclaim, or resell expired foods, as it poses serious health risks. If they witness improper disposal, they are encouraged to immediately report it and take photos of the vehicle or individuals involved for easier tracing.

Through these measures, TMDM aims to curb the unsafe disposal of expired foods, protect public health, and empower the community to participate in preventing health hazards caused by unsafe goods.