CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTABILITY SCAM

The City warns business owners to be on the look out for scammers posing as the City’s environmental health practitioners and issuing fraudulent Certificates of Acceptability (COA) for a fee.

A COA is compulsory for all food premises and is issued free of charge by the City.

The City’s Public Health By-laws state clearly that a COA is issued by the Environmental Health Division after a practitioner has inspected the premises, and is satisfied that it complies with the national regulations governing general hygiene requirements for food premises, the transportation of food and related matters.

When the City’s environmental health practitioners visit businesses it is advised to ask for their proof of identification, failing which they can be denied access. It is further advised that anyone running a food business without a COA go to their nearest customer care centre and arrange for an inspection in order to obtain one.

The public health by-laws and environmental health services tariffs are available on www.ekurhuleni.gov.za. For more information on permit requirements call 011 999 2968.

Anyone with information on the fraudsters masquerading as the City’s officials are encouraged to report them to the SAPS at 08600 10111 or the City’s fraud hotline on 0800 102 201.