26 Jun 2013

 The business community in Mahalapye has been urged to comply with statutes that regulate trade.

Speaking during a business community meeting in Mahalapye, the director of the Department of Trade and Consumer Affairs, Ms Rosinah Bontsi said there was continued violation and non-compliance to statutes that regulated trade. She said some of the common offences were trading without a license and trading with forged licenses.

Some businesspeople, she said, employed non-citizens without work permits. She said another issue was the non-issuance of receipts by businesses and urged people to always demand receipts after purchase. Ms Bontsi also urged businesspeople to adhere to health and safety standards.

Giving an update on the compliance level in Mahalapye Sub-district, Ms Bontsi said from April 2012 to May 2013, the compliance level had varied between 45 and 90 per cent. She said low compliance was experienced in liquor laws, adding that some businesspeople operated beyond the regulated times.

She said other offences included trading without a license, failing to display trade license, failing to pay annual license fee, selling tainted and expired goods, counterfeit goods and failing to manage waste.

She said inspectors had encountered challenges such as language barrier when executing their duty. She reiterated that action would be taken against businesses that committed offences.

Businesspeople on the other hand decried lack of fair business trade. Mr Simane Ranthwaakgale said the way in which inspections were carried out  was not standard for all businesses.

Thus, Mr Ranthwaakgale called for equal treatment in business, saying there was favouritism and corruption. ENDS