CoCT notes marked increase in public complaints, queries around food-related matters in Nov & Dec
This followed President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement that food-handling establishments would be shut down if they did not register with municipalities and that deadline has been extended to the end of February.
On Wednesday, 27 November 2024, Kensington councillor Cheslyn Steenberg visited two shops and a take-away establishment along with police and municipal environmental health practitioners, to check compliance. Picture: Cheslyn Steenberg
CAPE TOWN - The City of Cape Town says November and December saw a marked increase in public complaints and queries around food-related matters.
This followed President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement that food-handling establishments would be shut down if they did not register with municipalities and that deadline has been extended to the end of February.
This is part of government's response to hundreds of cases of food contamination across the country last year, tragically highlighted by the deaths of at least 23 children.
Between 15 November and 31 December, Cape Town's Environmental Health service received more than 6,500 certificate of acceptability applications from spaza shop owners.
That document indicates a food-handling establishment complies with hygiene and food safety standards.
Most of the applications came from Area East, which includes Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain and Strand.
In 2023, the public logged 128 service requests for food-related matters, with complaints relating to issues such as unhygienic conditions and food quality concerns.
Last year, that number increased by 55%, with a notable spike in the last two months of the year when there was increased publicity around food safety.