While most people have either thrown away their polony and viennas, or got refunded, popular Cape Flats fast food restaurants say sales has not been affected by a deadly listeria outbreak in South Africa.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on Thursday said he will support families of 180 people killed by the bacterial infection if they wanted to take legal action against the companies implicated, Enterprise and Rainbow Chicken.
He said there was a shortage of 3300 environmental health inspectors.
“We have a serious shortage of environmental health inspectors because that function was given to local government in 1996,” said Motsoaledi.
“It was a mistake for the Constitution to give that job to municipalities because they cannot do it.”
The Enterprise facility in Polokwane, Limpopo, was identified by the department of health as the source of the listeriosis outbreak.
Motsoaledi identified ready-to-eat products like polony, viennas and russians as carriers, due to poor hygiene practices.
NO IMPACT: Wembley Roadhouse says they have reputable suppliers
Enterprise is owned by food giant Tiger Brands, which has refused to take responsibility for the listeria outbreak, denying any direct links between the deaths of 180 people and its products.
EFF leader Julius Malema said they plan to launch a class action suit against Tiger Brands next week.
Visiting Golden Dish in Gatesville on Thursday, the Daily Voice spoke to owner Rafaq Parker, while he was serving customers during the lunchtime rush.
Parker says his business is unaffected by the listeriosis scare.
“Our customers know our brand and they trust us. We in turn have halaal suppliers and no contamination has occurred at any halaal supplier,” he explained.
In Belgravia Road, Wembley Roadhouse manager, Ali Dhanshe said they too are not affected by the outbreak.
“Business has gone on as usual. The listeriosis does not have an impact on us. We have reputable suppliers and have had absolutely no complaints about our food and its quality,” Dhanshe says.