PRETORIA, Gauteng — African Transformation Movement (ATM) leader Vuyo Zungula has stated that the recent Public Protector report on spaza shop food safety regulations confirms South Africa is operating as a “failed state.” The findings expose systemic regulatory failures, severe understaffing, and institutional negligence that contributed to the deadly 2024 food poisoning outbreak, which claimed the lives of several children and left hundreds ill across the country.
According to the findings released by Public Protector Gcaleka, the informal food retail sector is largely run by foreign nationals, with state institutions potentially liable for negligence and health regulation violations. The investigation was triggered by a complaint lodged by the ATM two years ago following the nationwide 2024 food poisoning wave. Zungula emphasized that the report establishes a direct link between the high number of foreign nationals trading in the informal sector and the smuggling of goods and chemicals, which were implicated in the tragic incident referenced in the findings.
A major crisis highlighted by Zungula is the severe lack of capacity within state institutions. He noted that the Department of Home Affairs recently added 301 immigration officers, bringing the total to approximately 1,100. This number is expected to police a population of 62 million people, including an estimated 3 million illegal foreigners, a demographic concern previously echoed by the Minister of Justice. Similarly, environmental health practitioner capacity in eThekwini is operating at a mere 16 percent. Against the standard norm of one practitioner per 10,000 citizens, this severe deficit prevents adequate inspections of spaza shops to ensure food is not expired, counterfeit, or unsafe for consumption.
Beyond understaffing, Zungula pointed to deep-rooted corruption as a primary enabler of the crisis. He alleged that Home Affairs officials corruptly sell documentation, posing a national security risk and leading to the revocation of visa-free travel for South Africans by other countries. Despite a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report detailing widespread corruption within Home Affairs, Zungula argued that the government fails to punish these enablers. He also noted that environmental inspectors and police officers are reportedly taking bribes, allowing illicit and unsafe foodstuffs to infiltrate the market unchecked.
Addressing government interventions, Zungula acknowledged the allocation of 500 million rands for South African spaza shop owners, with over 2,000 local owners reportedly receiving the funding. However, he criticized the cumbersome requirements, such as demanding proof of address from individuals living in informal settlements, as a deliberate barrier designed to limit access. Zungula revealed that the ATM wrote to the Minister of Finance, Minister Enoch Godongwana, in October 2023, urging the employment of more environmental health practitioners. He also highlighted that ATM councilors have actively assisted citizens in navigating the red tape to successfully access the spaza shop funding.
The ATM leader stressed that the government’s tendency to deploy resources reactively—such as the 600 million rands spent on June 30 to manage public outrage—while ignoring lethal systemic failures, is unacceptable. He cited the recent deaths of two South African military (SANDF) soldiers policing illegal immigration as further evidence of the state’s failure to act decisively to protect its citizens.
Moving forward, the ATM plans to enforce the report’s recommendations at the municipal level. Zungula revealed that in eThekwini, only 5 percent of operational spaza shops are compliant with licensing, tax laws, and environmental health inspections. Speaker John Senona will ensure the report is formally tabled in the council, while municipal managers and Johannesburg councilors will embark on a process next week to close down non-compliant establishments.
Zungula concluded with a call to action, urging South African citizens to vote the current leadership out in the upcoming November 4 elections to install leaders committed to genuine governance, accountability, and public safety.
