Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka has identified major weaknesses in the enforcement of food safety laws at spaza shops and other informal food outlets.
She released the preliminary findings of her systemic investigation on Friday. The investigation followed several suspected food poisoning incidents in 2024. Those incidents claimed the lives of several children and left many others ill.
Not Enough Health Inspectors
The investigation found that many municipalities do not employ enough Environmental Health Practitioners.
As a result, inspectors cannot visit food businesses regularly. Consequently, authorities struggle to identify health risks and enforce food safety laws. This situation leaves many communities at greater risk
Weak Enforcement
The report also found poor enforcement of food safety regulations.
According to Gcaleka, many food businesses fail to comply with the law. In addition, government departments often fail to work together. Therefore, authorities cannot respond effectively to food safety risks.
She said stronger cooperation between departments will improve food safety and better protect consumers.
Challenges During Investigations
The report also highlighted problems during several food poisoning investigations.
For example, investigators collected food samples after people had already disturbed the scene. Because of this, laboratories could not test the evidence properly. As a result, investigators struggled to identify the source of the contamination.
Final Report Still to Come
Gcaleka stressed that these are only preliminary findings. She released them under Section 7(9) of the Public Protector Act.
The affected municipalities and government departments can now respond to the findings. After that, the Public Protector will review their responses before publishing the final report.
The final report is expected to include recommendations that will strengthen food safety oversight. Ultimately, the recommendations aim to prevent similar tragedies and improve consumer protection across South Africa.
