JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — Gauteng province spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga has addressed the alarming findings of the recent Public Protector report, which revealed that municipalities across the province are failing to adequately enforce critical food safety laws. The report highlights severe health practitioner capacity shortages, municipal budget constraints, and widespread non-compliance among spaza shops and school kitchens, prompting urgent calls for interdepartmental intervention to protect public health.
Mhlanga explained that the province’s health practitioner capacity is currently operating at just over 30%. Financial constraints and budget cuts at both metro and local municipality levels are the primary drivers behind the severe shortage of health inspectors. This lack of human capacity creates significant governance issues; while businesses may successfully navigate the application process to receive operating licenses, there is little to no subsequent monitoring of how they store food or maintain hygiene standards.
Despite these challenges, Mhlanga noted that the Public Protector’s report has been instrumental in clarifying accountability. By identifying approximately 13 role players and explicitly defining their responsibilities, the report has laid the groundwork for collaborative solutions. The spokesperson emphasized the urgent need to involve the provincial treasury to address this life-threatening shortage of personnel, drawing parallels to recent hiring drives by the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Labour, which are actively recruiting thousands of inspectors to manage their respective workloads.
The transcript of the report highlights a stark compliance crisis within the informal retail sector. Of the estimated 12,000 spaza shops in Gauteng, roughly 7,000 are operated by foreign nationals, the majority of whom lack the necessary permits to do so. Overall compliance levels currently sit at a mere 5%.
Mhlanga confirmed that the registration process for spaza shop owners remains ongoing with no set closing date, and the Department of Small Business is actively managing the database. However, authorities have uncovered cases of “fronting,” where local South Africans apply for licenses on behalf of foreign nationals. These matters have been formally referred to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for investigation and potential prosecution. Furthermore, government funding allocated to support South African spaza shop owners is strictly tied to this official registration database, though many applicants struggle to provide requisite documentation due to irregular entry into the country.
Despite the systemic hurdles, Mhlanga noted that metros, including the City of Johannesburg, are intensifying bylaw enforcement in central business districts and townships. Mayors are leading efforts to monitor, clamp down on, and close non-compliant operations, while encouraging more South Africans to enter the sector legally and safely.
The Public Protector report also flagged over 600 schools for lacking adequate and safe kitchen infrastructure. Mhlanga assured the public that new schools are being constructed with proper kitchen facilities, and the private sector is actively partnering with the government to upgrade infrastructure in existing schools. He stressed that the National School Nutrition Program is a highly sensitive area. Strict food handling protocols and comprehensive training for food preparers have successfully prevented food poisoning incidents, and the province is working diligently to protect this vital service for millions of learners.
Addressing concerns about financial underspending during a food safety crisis, Mhlanga pointed to bottlenecks in procurement processes. The provincial government is now prioritizing the efficient allocation of funds, ensuring that money designated for infrastructure is actually spent. The Member of the Executive Council (MEC) is currently engaging with communities across the province to address overcrowding and infrastructure deficits. Mhlanga reiterated that underspending will not be tolerated when it comes to infrastructure delivery, and the province remains committed to ensuring that the school nutrition program is fully protected and effectively resourced.
