As part of strengthening product safety control and compliance with the Consumer Protection Act, the National Consumer Protection Commission (NCC) conducted inspections of over 777 suppliers across the country. This data was revealed 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 Ratshisusu, outlined the main challenges in the consumer market strategy for the 2025–2030 period that affect product safety. Among these challenges, he highlighted illegal and counterfeit products, unsafe and substandard goods, one-off direct marketing, insufficient consumer awareness, as well as declining market trust and rising consumer complaints.
He noted that 2024/25 was particularly critical due to an increase in foodborne illnesses affecting the most vulnerable consumers, including children. Among the concerns related to market monitoring, he listed expired products, incorrect or foreign-language labeling, lack of receipts, and widespread non-compliance with the Consumer Protection Act.
Ratshisusu also pointed to a broader disregard for the Consumer Protection Act, which primarily originates from small businesses and some food suppliers. He reported that since April 2026, the NCC has inspected at least 777 suppliers nationwide, finding similar patterns of non-compliance, and aims to bring another 1000 suppliers into compliance with the Consumer Protection Act this year.
'Over the past two years, the National Consumer Protection Commission has recorded a significant increase in product recalls caused by a large number of vehicle recalls. In total, during 2025/2026, the National Consumer Protection Commission carried out 98 product recalls, higher than the 57 in the previous period. Regarding food safety, eight recalls were registered in 2025/26,' he stated. Ratshisusu added that the NCC prioritizes food markets due to the widespread presence of expired and unlabeled goods in informal markets, which threatens consumer health and harms legitimate businesses.
The Minister of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs of KwaZulu-Natal, the Reverend Musa Zondi, emphasized 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 needs.
Problems include expired food, repackaged products, and goods that may have been exposed to harmful substances. Noting the crisis in food safety, which intensified in 2024 and entered the national agenda, Zondi stated that the government was obliged to react decisively. In KwaZulu-Natal, this was implemented through increased inspections for compliance 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, indicating where consumers are vulnerable, where businesses need more support and education, and where control needs to be strengthened.
He also focused on the aspect of consumer trust in food safety. When consumers lose confidence in the market, the consequences extend beyond the individual who bought an unsafe product. Zondi explained that unsafe food and fragmented oversight can negatively impact the economy and undermine public trust, so the responsibility is twofold: consumers must be protected, but an environment must also be created where legitimate businesses can operate with confidence and stability.
The Ombudsman for Consumer Goods and Services (CGSO), Liakut Subrati, noted 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 while there is a large informal food sector in South Africa, there has been a movement over the last 24 months towards integrating small shops, including spaza shops, into the regulatory framework, especially concerning food preparation.
Subrati added that what is needed now is not only strict adherence to rules but also adopting good business practices to protect consumers and ensure the sustainability of their businesses. This requires education and coordination so that small businesses can also profit.