Over 16 240 formal food establishments have been found to be non-compliant with food safety regulations in Gauteng, since 2020. This is putting the lives of residents at risk of food poisoning.
This is worrying considering that there have been 423 cases of food poisoning over the last four years and 23 people have died in 2023 and 2024 from food poisoning.
This information was revealed by the MEC for Health, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko in a reply to a DA question asked in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature recently.
Given the high number of formal food establishments that are not compliant with food safety regulations it is clear that there is a need for more health inspectors in the province.
The lack of health inspectors is putting the lives of our residents at risk.
In order to prevent contamination of food strict protocols need to be followed when preparing food especially by restaurants and fast-food outlets.
The DA has already tabled questions to the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo to determine exactly how many health inspectors there are for each municipality and how many vacancies there are.
The DA will continue to demand that where there are vacancies that these are filled are immediately.
A DA Gauteng Provincial Government would ensure that there are adequate health inspectors per municipality, and we will conduct regular inspections of food establishments to make sure that they comply with food safety regulations.