The City of Johannesburg’s Department of Economic Development, in partnership with the Wholesale & Retail SETA and training provider Lutzanetix, successfully hosted a Food Safety Training session today at Don Mateman Hall in Eldorado Park. The programme forms part of the City’s ongoing work to strengthen business compliance, improve safe trading environments and boost the Township Economy.
The Eldorado Park session is one of several held across the City’s seven regions, targeting 500 spaza shop owners with training on food safety, hygiene and basic business management. The initiative aims to ensure that spaza shops — a vital part of township commerce — operate safely, legally and sustainably.
Speaking at the session, Lutzanetix CEO Simon Ndukwana emphasised the need to capacitate township traders with practical skills to improve food handling and trading standards.
“We have been entrusted by the Wholesale & Retail SETA to capacitate spaza shop owners on food safety and hygiene. Many people are unaware of proper food safety processes, how to manage stock, store it correctly, and ensure customers receive safe food. This programme responds directly to challenges South Africa has faced, including cases of food contamination affecting children,” Ndukwana said.
He added that Lutzanetix is proud to partner with key City departments — Development Planning, Environmental Health, Fire Safety and Economic Development — to help traders better understand municipal by-laws and maintain safe trading spaces.
“Beyond food safety, we are committed to empowering SMMEs because they are critical to the township economy. Spaza shops generated R178 billion last year, and we want business owners to be equipped to participate meaningfully in this market.”
Lutzanetix is currently training spaza owners across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape, and plans to expand partnerships with SETAs and municipalities to strengthen township entrepreneurship.
Local traders welcomed the City’s efforts. Riya Tatane, a spaza and takeaway owner from Eldorado Park Extension 2, said the training would help her build her business. “There is a lot of competition. Workshops like this help us understand compliance, registration and how to run our businesses properly. My business has supported my family and three employees since 2012. I am now registering my business so I can expand,” she said.
The training programme was attended by various City departments, including Environmental Health, Economic Development, Development Planning and CRUM, alongside other stakeholders supporting small business growth.
To participate, spaza shop owners were required to present certified IDs and CIPC documents, ensuring the programme benefits legally operating businesses and encourages others to become compliant.
City officials recommended regular refresher training on hygiene practices, pest control and cleaning standards, as well as multilingual sessions to support traders who do not speak English. They also highlighted the importance of ongoing monitoring to assess impact.
The training follows the recent session in Finetown and concludes the current leg of the programme in Region G. The City aims to expand similar initiatives across Johannesburg to strengthen safe, compliant and thriving township businesses.
Written by Farhin Delawala