'Six out of 16 food outlets pass inspections'
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday June 17, 2025 11:39
The affected businesses include a mix of restaurants, grocery shops, and food manufacturers operating across the capital. GCC Deputy Town Clerk for Operations, Mosidi Batsalelwang, confirmed in an interview that the inspections are part of the council’s ongoing routine health monitoring efforts.
“This is a normal part of our environmental health duties. We continuously carry out inspections to ensure compliance with public health standards. What has changed recently is simply our approach, it's more focused, systematic, and stricter in its enforcement,” she explained.
According to Batsalelwang, the recent inspections targeted multiple categories of businesses, including food manufacturers, chemical dealers, and general food establishments.
“We inspected six food manufacturing facilities, three of them were found to be compliant, whilst the remaining three failed to meet the necessary health standards,” she revealed.
She said that shops dealing in chemical products all passed the inspection, which she credited to their clear understanding of hazardous material handling guidelines.
However, the situation was markedly different in the food retail sector. “Out of 16 food establishments inspected, only six complied with the safety regulations. The other 10 were found in violation of various health and safety requirements,” Batsalelwang said.
In response to these violations, some businesses were fined whilst others were ordered to shut down temporarily.
“There are currently seven shops with pending cases. We are working with their owners to rectify outstanding issues before any decision on reopening is made,” she pointed out.
Batsalelwang emphasised that the regulations being enforced are not new or arbitrary.
“These are the same basic requirements that are explained to business owners when they apply for operating licences. There should be no surprises. All traders are aware of what is expected,” she revealed.
Serious hygiene violations were discovered at establishments like Pick 'n Pay (South Ring Mall), Bravo Restaurant (Main Mall), Chicken Twist (Bonnington), Spar (Main Mall Bakery and Butchery), Choppies Butchery, Pie Time and Fours Bakery.