The National Consumer Protection Commission (NCC) is intensifying control over product safety by conducting inspections of over 777 suppliers across the country. These inspections revealed similar patterns of non-compliance with the Consumer Protection Act.
This information was presented at the inaugural Food Safety Indeb in KwaZulu-Natal, held yesterday in Durban. The event was held under the slogan 'Accelerating Food Safety Together!' and brought together key participants: government representatives, national regulators, municipalities, law enforcement agencies, academic circles, businesses, consumer protection bodies, and civil society to strengthen joint efforts to protect consumers and improve food security in the province.
The Acting Commissioner of the NCC, Harding Ratshisu, presented the main challenges facing the consumer market in the 2025–2030 strategy that affect product safety. Among these challenges are the presence of counterfeit and illegal goods, unsafe and substandard products, one-off direct marketing, low consumer awareness, and declining trust in the market and rising consumer complaints.
He noted that 2024/25 proved particularly critical due to an increase in foodborne illnesses affecting the most vulnerable consumers, including children. Among the market monitoring issues, he highlighted expired products, incorrect or foreign language labeling, lack of receipts, and widespread non-compliance with the Consumer Protection Act. Furthermore, there is a broader disregard for this Act, mainly from small businesses and some food suppliers.
Ratshisu reported that since April 2026, the NCC has inspected at least 777 suppliers nationwide, discovering similar instances of non-compliance. The Commission aims to bring another 1000 suppliers into compliance with the Consumer Protection Act this year. He added that over the past two years, the NCC has registered a significant increase in product recalls, driven by a higher number of vehicle recalls. In total, the NCC conducted 98 product recalls in 2025/2026, up from 57 in the previous period. Regarding food safety, eight recalls were recorded in 2025/26.
Ratshisu emphasized that the NCC prioritizes food markets due to the widespread availability of expired and unlabeled products in informal markets, which threatens consumer health and harms legitimate businesses.
The MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs of KwaZulu-Natal, Reverend Musa Zondi, pointed out that statistics show that communities most affected by unsafe food are often those heavily reliant on small shops (tuckshops and spaza shops) for purchasing essential food and household necessities.
Concerns include expired products, repackaged goods, and items that may have been exposed to harmful substances. Noting the food safety crisis, which intensified in 2024 and entered the national agenda, Zondi stated that the government was forced to take decisive action. In KwaZulu-Natal, this manifested in increased compliance checks and proactive interventions.
Zondi explained that the province's experience showed that inspections are not just about finding violations. They also help understand what is happening in local communities, point out vulnerable consumer groups, identify where businesses need more support and education, and show where law enforcement needs to be strengthened. He also emphasized the aspect of consumer trust. When consumers lose confidence in the market, the consequences extend beyond a single buyer of an unsafe product. 'Unsafe food and fragmented oversight can negatively impact the economy and undermine public trust. Therefore, our responsibility is twofold: we must protect consumers, but also create an environment where legitimate businesses can operate with confidence and stability,' Zondi explained.
The Ombudsman for Consumer Goods and Services (CGSO), Liakut Subrati, stated that tragic failures in food safety underscore the need to protect consumers and assist suppliers in implementing practical safety measures for a safer South Africa. He mentioned that there is a large informal food sector in South Africa. However, over the last 24 months, there has been a movement towards bringing smaller shops, including spaza shops, into compliance, especially regarding food preparation.
Subrati added that what is needed now is not only strict adherence to regulations but also the adoption of good business practices to protect consumers and ensure the sustainability of their businesses. This requires training and coordination so that small businesses can also profit.
