Cape Town: The City Health Department is warning businesses, especially those who are based in the Lentegeur area, against fake health officials trying to scam business owners.
The scammers are posing as City Health inspectors that are once again targeting businesses, demanding payment for fake ‘health certificates’.
Businesses in the Lentegeur area have reported to City Health that individuals are posing as health officials who are visiting shops and demanding certificates. The imposters then attempt to charge for issuing these certificates and threaten shop operators with violence if they ask for proof of identification.
The City of Cape Town would like to again inform the public that there is no charge associated with the processing or issuing of a COA. In order to avoid being conned, business owners need to be aware that a Certificate of Acceptability (COA) that was issued since the updated regulations were published in 2018.
However, this remains valid unless the premises have a change in management, are sold, and physical changes are made to the premises and to the scope of operations. Only the City of Cape Town Health Department has the legal mandate to issue COAs to food premises which when issued are printed on specifically manufactured paper with a holographic City logo that prevents it from being replicated.
The COAs are only awarded on submission of all relevant documentation, and a physical inspection to ensure that the premises complies with legislative requirements. All City of Cape Town officials carry formal identification with the City logo showing their name, department and designation.
As City employees, no one can request any rewards, gifts, favours and hospitability and do not have a general right to accept any of these. Furthermore, the city officials are not permitted to accept payment directly from clients and any applications thatd o require payment should only occur at a City cash office or via an electronic funds transfer into the bank account of the city with details of which are available on the City’s website.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health – Councillor Francine Higham said that these scams are a serious threat to the small business community. Pretending to be city officials is an old trick and businesses are urged to be vigilant.
Higham said she want to encourage anyone who has been conned or threatened in this manner to please report it to the police and provide as much information as possible so that those responsible can be brought to book.
Notably, the city has advised, when starting your business or considering any amendments to your conditions of trade, rather consult your local Environmental Health office or the City’s website to determine what exactly you need, how to apply for it and what costs are applicable, if any.
Councillor Francine Higham further said that if they are approached or anyone visits their premises and demands payment or any type of reward for any type of inspection or documentation, insist on checking their credentials and verifying their story with the local Environmental Health office. Business owners can also check the legitimacy of any documentation provided by a third party with their EHPs.
The owners of premises who are concerned with that person may be fraudulently representing themselves as City Health officials or that the documentation issued to them may be fraudulent are encouraged to engage City Health at this official website.