Thinking of starting your own food business? You need to ensure that you comply with legislation, local by-laws and licensing requirements - and here are some useful website links for some of the major municipal centres in South Africa.
Cape Town
Set up your informal trading business
You can find out more about how the City regulates informal trading by reading our Informal Trading Policy – in this document we detail how we manage trading locations, types of legal trading, operating hours, permits and licences, and the responsibilities of the traders. Our policy provides a clear indication of what we expect from informal traders.
http://www.capetown.gov.za/Work%20and%20business/Doing-business-in-the-City/Start-a-business/informal-trading
https://www.westerncape.gov.za/your_gov/33/services/1002/17549
Using your home for your business
A home-based business may be a small church/place of worship, bed and breakfast or crèche. While these uses are welcomed, you need to ensure that the use of your property is in line with the zoning of the premises and, where applicable, consent for alternative uses must be obtained.
http://www.capetown.gov.za/Work%20and%20business/Doing-business-in-the-City/Register-your-business-premises/Home-based-business
Regulations for food businesses
Formal and informal businesses handling and preparing food for sale to the public are required to obtain a business licence.
http://www.capetown.gov.za/Work%20and%20business/Commercial-health-and-safety/Environmental-health/Regulations-for-food-businesses
Durban
Business Licensing
Anyone wishing to open an accommodation or entertainment establishment, or food outlet in eThekwini has to register with Business Licensing Department.
http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Services/Business%20Licensing/Pages/default.aspx
Food Bylaws
http://www1.durban.gov.za/durban/government/bylaws/food-bylaws
Johannesburg
Food safety at food premises: general tips and guidelines
The importance of food hygiene - although cases of food poisoning are not regularly reported in South Africa, food poisoning is on the increase in developed and developing countries, despite attempts to improve standards of food hygiene.
http://joburg.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=640&Itemid=9
Tshwane
By-laws and Legislation
City of Tshwane Resident's manual on by-laws and legislation
http://www.tshwane.gov.za/sites/business/Bylaws/ByLaws%20Documents/Bylaw%20Manual%20English.pdf
Frequently asked questions for by laws
By-laws are laws that are passed by the council of a municipality to regulate the affairs and the services the municipality provides in its area of jurisdiction, find out what issues are regulated by by-laws in Tshwane...
http://www.tshwane.gov.za/sites/business/Bylaws/Pages/FAQ-By-law.aspx
Remember - each municipality will have it's own by-laws, so make sure to check with the local authorities where you will be running your food business.
