A series of disturbing events revolving around expired goods in both retail shops and wholesalers have kept the business community, police, and local authorities facing tough resistance from the new forum called Dikwankwetla led by Economic Freedom Fighter councillor Olebogeng Leserwane.

The forum with its vibrant leadership is mobilising the community to terrorise shops inspecting and confiscating expired goods without the blessings from the Consumer Protection Authority. This activity has not resonated well with a number of stakeholders claiming it is closer to the act of criminality.

The uncharacteristic exercise prompted the urgent meeting by the Consumer Protection Authority from the provincial office, municipal mayors and the forum members in trying to find a balance between the elimination of the so-called expired goods and ushering some semblance of legality in the operation.

The manager responsible for education and awareness from the Consumer Protection Authority, Mr Jon Relph Speek said that his visit was prompted by an outcry from the business community and to intervene within the nick of time. He said that the exercise puts participating community members in jeopardy because the exercise was closer to criminality and as such, the operation does not fall under the jurisprudence of consumerism acts.

He conceded that as the authority, officials of the department of economic development should be carrying out regular inspections but due to staff shortage inspections have been compromised.

A tentative agreement where forum members and municipal health inspectors must work together was mooted to entrench legality but this was received with mixed responses from the meeting and the forum said that it was prepared to cooperate provided authorities would avail themselves on a regular basis because it is prepared to correcting the malpractice by some business people who sell expired edible products.