PRETORIA, Gauteng — African Transformation Movement (ATM) leader Vuyo Zungula has declared that the latest spaza shop food safety report by Public Protector Gcaleka serves as definitive proof that South Africa is functioning as a “failed state.” The findings highlight a catastrophic breakdown in regulatory enforcement, severe institutional understaffing, and systemic negligence that directly contributed to the tragic 2024 food poisoning outbreak, which resulted in the deaths of multiple children and left hundreds hospitalized nationwide.
Initiated by an ATM complaint, the investigation reveals that the informal food retail sector is predominantly operated by foreign nationals, with certain state bodies potentially liable for health regulation violations and negligence. Zungula emphasized that the report draws a direct correlation between the proliferation of undocumented foreign traders in the informal sector and the smuggling of hazardous chemicals and goods, which were linked to the fatal outbreak referenced in the findings.
A central pillar of Zungula’s critique is the crippling lack of operational capacity within key state departments. He pointed out that the Department of Home Affairs recently appointed 301 new immigration officials, bringing the national total to roughly 1,100. This force is tasked with managing immigration for a population of 62 million, including an estimated 3 million undocumented foreigners, a statistic previously highlighted by the Minister of Justice. Furthermore, environmental health practitioner levels in eThekwini are operating at a mere 16 percent of the required norm, which mandates one practitioner for every 10,000 residents. This deficit makes routine inspections of spaza shops for expired or counterfeit goods nearly impossible.
Beyond staffing shortages, Zungula highlighted endemic corruption as a primary catalyst for the crisis. He alleged that Home Affairs officials are illegally selling documentation, creating a national security vulnerability that has already prompted other nations to revoke visa-free travel for South African citizens. Despite a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report exposing extensive corruption within the department, Zungula argued that the executive branch has failed to prosecute these enablers. Similarly, he noted that municipal environmental inspectors and police officers are frequently implicated in taking bribes, allowing illicit food products to circulate unchecked.
Addressing state interventions, Zungula acknowledged the government’s allocation of 500 million rands to support local spaza shop owners, with over 2,000 South African operators reportedly receiving assistance. However, he condemned the bureaucratic red tape, such as demanding formal proof of address from residents in informal settlements, as a deliberate barrier to entry. Zungula noted that the ATM formally wrote to the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, in October 2023, urging the immediate hiring of environmental health practitioners. He also highlighted that ATM councilors have been actively helping citizens navigate these cumbersome requirements to successfully access the relief funds.
The ATM is now moving to enforce the report’s recommendations at the local government level. Zungula revealed a stark statistic: in eThekwini, only 5 percent of active spaza shops comply with licensing, tax, and environmental health regulations. To address this, ATM Speaker John Senona will formally table the report in the council, while municipal managers and Johannesburg Councilors are scheduled to initiate a crackdown next week to shut down non-compliant establishments.
Concluding his remarks, Zungula issued a stark political warning, urging voters to remove the current administration in the November 4 elections. He criticized the government for deploying 600 million rands on June 30 to suppress legitimate public protests, while failing to protect citizens from deadly informal trade hazards. He also cited the recent deaths of two South African Military (SANDF) soldiers policing illegal immigration as further evidence of a leadership crisis, calling for a new mandate focused on genuine governance and public safety.