Newcastle Municipality Enforces Sweeping Food Safety and Business Regulations

Massive changes are set to impact liquor outlets, spaza shops, and tuckshops alike in both Newcastle East and Newcastle West.

This development comes as the Newcastle Municipality drives government interventions to address food safety challenges affecting vulnerable communities across the region.

Looking at the situation on a provincial level first, after weeks of increased reports of food poisoning incidents, particularly affecting children, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has now assured that the provincial government is committed to addressing the root causes of the issue, which includes poor regulation of the informal food sector, inadequate hygiene standards, and insufficient waste removal systems.

“The safety and health of our communities, especially our children, are priorities we cannot compromise on. We are moving swiftly to implement measures that will restore public confidence in the safety of our food supply,” Ntuli said during a media briefing.

Ntuli further highlighted that the provincial government is rolling out a multi-pronged approach to tackle the issue. This will include enhanced monitoring and inspections, trader education and awareness campaigns, stronger municipal oversight, community collaboration, and coordination with national efforts.

According to the Premier, enhanced monitoring and inspections will see a provincial task team, in collaboration with local municipalities, conducting routine inspections and surprise spot checks at spaza shops and informal food outlets to enforce compliance with hygiene and safety standards.

The provincial government will also launch a campaign to educate informal traders on food safety practices, waste management, and the importance of adhering to licensing requirements.

To strengthen municipal oversight, Ntuli stated that municipalities would play a significant role in enforcing the newly gazetted bylaw, ensuring all food outlets meet safety and hygiene benchmarks.

“Communities are encouraged to report unsafe practices and suspicious food products to local authorities. This feedback will help officials take swift action against non-compliant vendors. The province will align its strategy with the national government’s initiatives, ensuring that local interventions complement broader regulatory efforts,” Ntuli added.

The Premier’s briefing follows the national government’s gazetting of a draft municipal bylaw aimed at standardising food safety regulations across municipalities. The bylaw seeks to address critical gaps in oversight and provide a consistent framework for monitoring spaza shops and informal food outlets.

Recent food poisoning incidents have highlighted systemic challenges within the informal food sector, where regulation and enforcement have been inconsistent. Children, particularly those relying on meals purchased at or near schools, have been disproportionately affected. While acknowledging the severity of the crisis, Ntuli expressed optimism about the measures being implemented.

“These interventions are not just reactive but designed to create a lasting solution that prioritises public health,” the Premier said. He also called on all stakeholders, including informal traders, law enforcement agencies, and municipal officials, to work together to ensure food safety standards are upheld. “Protecting the health of our people is a shared responsibility. Together, we can safeguard the lives of our children and restore trust in the food sector,” Ntuli emphasised.

The provincial government has pledged to closely monitor the implementation of these measures, with plans to evaluate progress and address any shortcomings. Ntuli said public feedback would play a central role in refining the province’s approach to ensure its effectiveness.

“KwaZulu-Natal’s efforts to tackle food poisoning and spaza shop safety represent a broader commitment to improving the living conditions and well-being of its citizens. The measures announced signal a proactive stance in addressing challenges that have long plagued the informal food sector, with a firm focus on public safety and health,” Ntuli concluded.

In line with these efforts, and responding to the call from the National and KZN Provincial Government, the Newcastle Municipality has launched a comprehensive compliance audit of local businesses. According to the Municipality’s Communications Unit, this initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure safety and compliance in Newcastle’s local businesses.

“The Provincial Department for Development Planning and Human Settlements, through its Local Development Department, has mandated municipalities to audit local tuckshops, car washes, and liquor stores operating across their areas. The main goal of this initiative is to develop rapport with all establishments within Newcastle’s boundaries,” the Communications Unit explained. This action allegedly aims to ensure the Municipality is fully aware of the owner, type of business, operations, and whether the operating permit aligns with municipal bylaws, among other factors.

Moreover, the municipal task team will be visiting all 34 wards under the Newcastle jurisdiction to ensure businesses comply with the Business Act (Act No. 71 of 1991). As noted by the Newcastle Municipality’s Communications Unit, businesses found to be non-compliant will receive the following support:

• Support Services: Advisory services to help businesses understand their regulatory obligations. • Follow-up Inspections: Continuous monitoring to ensure corrective actions are implemented.

Key areas of non-compliance being targeted in the town include:

• Lack of necessary business permits and licenses. • Non-adherence to health and safety standards. • Failure to meet zoning and land use regulations. • Inadequate record-keeping and documentation.

Further discussing the matter, the Newcastle Municipality’s Development and Planning Chairperson, Councillor Bertie Meiring, explained that not only will all businesses in Newcastle be inspected, but the Municipality is taking this issue very seriously. “All municipal councillors have attended a workshop to gain a better understanding of the rules that spaza shops, tuckshops, and informal traders are supposed to follow,” said Councillor Meiring, adding that this would ensure councillors play a pivotal role in implementing the new regulations.

As the national and provincial governments push for these interventions, Newcastle municipal officials are actively engaging with the community. Councillor Zwe Nxumalo stressed the long-term benefits of these efforts despite the substantial work required from municipal officials.

“Children are being exposed to toxic foods which they are unintentionally buying, and there are individuals in the Newcastle community operating with expired food products. The Newcastle Municipality is now prioritising the lives of the community by ensuring that the legalities surrounding the sale of food products are adhered to,” Councillor Nxumalo stated.

Councillor Nxumalo also emphasised that the new draft bylaw was not intended to target any specific demographic group or only those living in townships. “These new regulations will apply to those living in both Newcastle West and East, as suburbs like Barry Hertzog Park and Ncandu Park have multiple tuckshops operating in various areas. Since these regulations stem from the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), the Newcastle Municipality will ensure that they are enforced efficiently,” he emphasised.

Looking at the broader picture, Councillor Nxumalo noted that the new regulations would assess the ownership of spaza shops and tuckshops, identifying whether they are owned by South Africans or foreign nationals.

He also stated that the new draft law on township economies is the first step in ensuring that South African nationals are prioritised in economic development, while safeguarding residents from the risks of food poisoning. He further noted that the new regulations would also ensure that the owners of these businesses and their staff would no longer be able to sleep at their premises, which would ensure that illegal foreigners could not hide as easy they would like.

It should be noted that, according to the new regulations signed by Velenkosini Hlabisa, Minister of CoGTA, municipalities may, based on their developmental objectives, determine quotas for the proportion of businesses within specific categories to be owned and operated by foreigners in line with the relevant legislation.

Furthermore, the regulations specify that in determining the quotas, a municipality must ensure that a proportion of the total staff employed are South African citizens or permanent residents, in accordance with all relevant laws.

In light of these changes, Councillor Meiring stressed the importance of spaza shop and tuckshop owners coming forward to ensure they are properly registered or face legal action. Cllr Nxumalo further called on Newcastillians to adhere to the regulations and report anyone who breached the new regulations.

To read the full set of regulations that now govern the operation of spaza shops and tuckshops, click here.

As the Newcastle Municipality takes steps to minimise the chances or food poisoning incidents from breaking out in Newcastle, the question now stands, what are your thoughts on the above? Share your views in the comment section below.