Food safety has once again become a major public concern in South Africa after preliminary findings from the Public Protector highlighted significant weaknesses in the enforcement of food safety regulations across Gauteng.
The City of Tshwane is reviewing the report, which concludes that municipalities have struggled to effectively monitor spaza shops, tuck shops and other food-handling businesses. The findings come amid continued scrutiny following a series of fatal food poisoning incidents involving children in 2024.
The investigation was launched after 20 children died last year, most of them between the ages of eight and ten, following allegations that they had consumed contaminated snacks purchased from informal neighbourhood shops. Subsequent investigations detected toxic organophosphate pesticides in some of the products, raising widespread concern about the safety of food sold through informal retail outlets.
Authorities found that Gauteng currently has only around 30% of the environmental health inspectors needed to adequately monitor thousands of food businesses operating across the province. As a result, many informal food outlets receive little or no routine inspection, increasing the risk of unsafe products reaching consumers.
Food Safety Oversight Under Pressure
According to the Public Protector’s investigation, the shortage of inspectors is only one part of a broader regulatory challenge. Approximately 72% of South Africa’s informal spaza shops are believed to be operating without the required licences, making effective oversight even more difficult.
Spaza shops have long played an important role in township economies. Originating during the apartheid era, these small community-based convenience stores were established by historically disadvantaged entrepreneurs who were excluded from formal business ownership. Today they remain an essential source of groceries and household necessities for many communities.
Vusumuzi Dlamini, the Gauteng provincial representative involved in the investigation, said municipalities carry the constitutional responsibility for enforcing food safety laws through regular inspections of food retailers and preparation facilities.
During the investigation, officials also identified possible cases involving business fronting, fraud and corruption, suggesting that enforcement failures may extend beyond resource shortages.
Calls Grow For Stronger Enforcement
The findings have renewed debate over the regulation of South Africa’s informal retail sector.
Dumisane Fana, Deputy President of the National Informal Traders Alliance of South Africa (NITASA), argued that weak enforcement has allowed expired food products to remain on sale in some communities. He also alleged that corruption within certain municipalities has contributed to the growth of unregulated businesses.
Public concern has remained high since another suspected food poisoning case involving an eight-year-old boy from Soweto brought the issue back into the national spotlight. The incident prompted renewed calls from political parties for stricter enforcement of existing food safety legislation.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) said protecting children and vulnerable residents should remain a top priority, warning that previous tragedies demonstrate the consequences of inadequate oversight.
Statistics released by Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Development Lebogang Maile further illustrate the scale of the challenge. In 2025, only 4,610 Certificates of Acceptability were issued from 17,617 applications submitted by spaza shops and food-handling businesses.
Although municipalities conducted more than 31,000 inspections during the year, thousands of food outlets remain outside the formal regulatory system, leaving authorities under increasing pressure to strengthen inspection capacity and improve public confidence in food safety.
Source: Public Protector South Africa, City of Tshwane, SABC