November and December saw a marked increase in public complaints and queries around food matters. It came in the wake of a number of high-profile incidents that put food safety squarely in the spotlight. South Africa has been in the grip of a food safety debate for months. In November national government announced that spaza shops would need to be registered to continue trading.
Any food-handling establishment is required to obtain a Certificate of Acceptability (COA) and to ensure it complies with national hygiene and food-safety standards. Between 15 November and 31 December 2024 the City’s Environmental Health service received 6 510 COA applications from spaza shop owners. The bulk of the applications came from Area East, i.e Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, Strand and surrounds.
COAs are awarded only on submission of all relevant documentation and a physical inspection to ensure the premises comply with legislative requirements. A look at other food-related data shows increases in public complaints and fines issued by Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs). In 2023, the public logged 128 service requests for food-related matters. Most complaints relate to dates of durability (or what people perceive as expired foodstuff), unhygienic conditions at food premises and food quality concerns. In 2024, the number increased by 55% to 199, with notable increases in November and December compared to the previous year.
Here I would like to thank our Environmental Health Practitioners from City Health Ms Sarkina Dalwai, Mr Mvuleni Mkwentla and their colleagues along with Captain Shawn Smith, Warrant Officers de Kock, Van Rooyen and Abrahams from Atlantis police and also our Law Enforcement – PI Gomis, SI Pienaar and staff – for their dedication and commitment to our own operations with spaza shops in Subcouncil 1. The City’s Business Hub is ready to roll its training-support programme out for Cape Town’s small businesses and entrepreneurs this year. The sessions will once again cover a variety of business-related concerns and topics, including marketing strategy, financial planning and tendering. Most of the programmes will take place virtually, meaning business owners will be able to access it wherever they are. Last year, the hub assisted 4 968 SMMEs and entrepreneurs through its training programme. This includes City-registered vendors exposed to procurement opportunities and small enterprises receiving training on doing business in the public and private sectors. The Productivity Efficiency Programme helped 17 enterprises to improve their operations, retaining a collective 509 jobs. SMMEs account for 80% of South Africa’s workforce while generating an estimated turnover of over R5 trillion. This clearly shows how pivotal they are in our economy. Small businesses are a lifeline of employment, innovation and our economy. By supporting SMMEs to help them maintain and grow operations, we are driving an economically-sustainable environment.
