Municipal compliance operations in the City of Tshwane have intensified, with several food businesses shut down during recent by-law enforcement inspections over health and safety violations.
The enforcement action has sparked broader discussion around compliance pressures facing small food businesses in urban centres, particularly low-margin traders who rely heavily on daily sales.
Entrepreneur Phiwe Mdinsila supported the crackdown, saying enforcement is necessary even if it disrupts business operations.
“Closing businesses is never ideal, but selling unsafe food is worse. Public safety has to come first, and small business owners have to comply if they want to scale,” Mdinsila said.
The City of Tshwane say operations will continue and remain strict where businesses fail to comply with municipal by-laws.
Last week, the municipality intensified its #ReASpana by-law enforcement operations, shutting down food businesses in Danville and Sunnyside over non-compliance with municipal bylaws, health and safety regulations.
The operations form part of a broader campaign aimed at ensuring that all businesses operating within the metro adhere to legal trading requirements and public health standards.
#ReASpana enforcement and regulatory requirements
City officials confirmed that inspections focused on key requirements such as valid trading licences, Certificates of Acceptability (COA), fire safety certification, and adherence to municipal health by-laws.
Municipal health inspections are further guided by the National Health Act 61 of 2003, which empowers local authorities to enforce environmental health standards including food safety, sanitation, and premises hygiene. In addition, businesses must comply with the City of Tshwane’s Municipal Health By-laws, which regulate conditions under which food is stored, prepared, and sold within the metro.
Among the businesses inspected was Danville Supermarket. Authorities stated that several establishments in the area were found non-compliant, with fines issued on the spot.
“Several businesses were found to be non-compliant, and fines were issued,” said Dr Nasiphi Moya.
The enforcement drive extended beyond Danville, with a separate operation in the Minnaar street of Sunnyside/Pretoria Central area leading to the closure of Mususumeli Food Place.
Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya said the restaurant was shut down after inspectors discovered multiple health violations, including unsafe food storage conditions.
“This restaurant is selling food that is unsafe for consumption. We’ve found various violations of municipal health by-laws. We’ve confiscated the food and shut down this establishment,” said the mayor.
Other businesses have been shut down due to various compliance violations since January 2026.
In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), the mayor also highlighted the condition of a refrigerator found at Mususumeli Food Place, describing it as unhygienic and unfit for food storage.
“This is the rotten condition of a fridge at a local restaurant in Sunnyside. We’ve closed down this restaurant,” she added.
