CAPE TOWN – Members of the Khayelitsha Business Forum (KBF) are calling on the City of Cape Town to amend certain by-laws in the catering sector, arguing that current regulations are preventing young local entrepreneurs from bidding for government tenders.
Their concerns follow an advert issued last month by the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness (WCDHW) for a catering contract at Khayelitsha District Hospital (KDH). One of the listed requirements was that bidders must possess a halal certificate.
Forum calls halal requirement “absurd”
KBF secretary Thokozile Qalanto said most catering businesses in Khayelitsha do not have halal certification. She described the inclusion of the certificate as a requirement for a tender in Khayelitsha as “absurd”.
“This is part of both the WCDHW and the City’s plan to exclude us. The City needs to amend its by-laws on catering. How can you include a halal certificate as a requirement when issuing a tender in Khayelitsha, where most people do not eat halal food? This is a clear indication that the City’s regulations are not for us. These regulations were designed for certain people,” she said.
Qalanto added that they would continue to fight for what they believe is right. She said the forum pressured the department to retract the tender advertisement.
Local caterers say they feel marginalised
One of the local caterers, Pratick Lugogwana, said Khayelitsha businesspeople have long felt marginalised.
“It is clear that the majority of people at KDH do not eat halal food. We do not understand why the department demanded a halal certificate as a requirement. We would understand if the tender was issued in Mitchell’s Plain or Athlone, but not in Khayelitsha,” he said.
Lugogwana stressed that they have nothing against the Muslim community but are fighting for equal opportunities. “Nothing will happen in Khayelitsha without us,” he added.
Another businesswoman, Funeka Mpetha, accused the provincial Department of Health and Wellness of using the halal requirement to sideline local businesses. “It is not government policy to demand a halal certificate in Khayelitsha, where the majority of people do not eat halal food. In 2022, the department did the same thing. We told them it was unfair,” she said.
Mpetha said her company lost out on a tender to cater for 300 children at KDH in 2022 because she did not have a halal certificate.
“As black businesspeople, we feel marginalised when bidding for tenders in neighbouring areas because we do not have the necessary documents. I cannot bid for a tender in Lentegeur or Mitchell’s Plain without a halal certificate, but we allow businesses from other areas to operate here,” she said. The City declined to comment and referred queries to the provincial Department of Health and Wellness.
Department responds to concerns
Department spokesperson Abulele Dyasi said the department acknowledges the concerns raised by the Khayelitsha Caterers Forum and recognises that matters relating to food, culture, religion, and economic participation are deeply important to the communities it serves.
“The department does not seek to exclude local businesses or undermine transformation. Our primary responsibility is to ensure that patients, staff, and visitors receive safe, dignified, and appropriate care, including meals that meet diverse dietary, medical, and religious requirements,” said Dyasi.
She added that procurement processes are governed by legislation and supply chain management frameworks to ensure fairness, transparency, and value for money, while supporting transformation objectives where permitted.
“The department remains committed to delivering healthcare services in a manner that is inclusive, respectful of diversity, and aligned with constitutional principles,” she said.
Dyasi explained that procurement requirements in health facilities are designed to support patient safety, dignity, and equitable access to services while complying with regulatory and governance obligations.
Tender cancelled
City Vision has a letter from the Directorate: Supply Chain Sourcing in the Department of Health and Wellness, signed by Rashaad Matthews, confirming that the catering contract (WCGHSC006/2026) for Khayelitsha District Hospital has been cancelled and will be re-advertised at a later stage.
