News in Brief

Published Jul 10, 2012

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Fruit & Veg City rock lobsters ‘not too small’

Charges that the Food Lover’s Market in Sandton sold undersized rock lobster were dismissed by the Randburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday. “None of the rock lobster was proven to be undersized and the allegations to this effect were factually incorrect,” Fruit & Veg City spokeswoman Jean Dennis said. “For this reason, the case was withdrawn before court as there was no case.” The Food Lover’s Market is a chain owned by the unlisted Fruit & Veg City group. The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries claimed that fishery officials had confiscated 50kg of undersized west coast rock lobster during a raid on Friday. At the time, departmental spokesman Steve Galane said some of the rock lobster at the shop were found to be under the legal size of 7.5cm. They were being sold for R50 each. The department laid a criminal charge against the shop on Friday afternoon. “The fact is that only 5kg were removed from the premises and all rock lobster were obtained from legitimate authorised suppliers and could be traced back to their source,” Dennis said. Galane said the department would follow up on the reasons for the court’s dismissal of the case. – Sapa

Meeting resolves mine safety issues

Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu met a mining industry task team yesterday to discuss health and safety. They agreed on recommendations to avoid inconsistencies in the application of section 54 of the Mine Health and Safety Act, which relates to mandatory stoppages after accidents at mines, they said yesterday. The mining industry growth, development and employment task team was set up in December 2008. The set of recommendations, which focused on stoppage notices at mines, were compiled by a team set up by the department in January. A section 54 notice is issued when a mining inspector orders a work stoppage after a death or other accident at a mine. Shabangu said she was pleased common ground on the issue had been found. – Sapa

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