Food licence lookup / Harry Gwala

Certificate of Acceptability in the Harry Gwala District

Food businesses in the 4 local municipalities of the Harry Gwala District apply for their Certificate of Acceptability at the district’s environmental health office, not at their local municipality.

Harry Gwala District Municipality

District · KwaZulu-Natal

Apply to this district’s environmental health office for your Certificate of Acceptability.

039 834 8700 / 0860 103 651

039 834 8700 is the switchboard (ask for Environmental Health); 0860 103 651 is customer care.

40 Main Street, Ixopo, 3276

Cost: Not published. Ask the office when you call.

Covers: Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma Local Municipality, Greater Kokstad Local Municipality, Ubuhlebezwe Local Municipality, uMzimkhulu Local Municipality

Last verified July 2026. Details changed? Let us know.

Towns this office serves

Wherever you are in these municipalities, Harry Gwala is your Certificate of Acceptability office:

  • Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma: Bulwer, Underberg, Himeville, Creighton, Donnybrook
  • Greater Kokstad: Kokstad, Franklin, Swartberg
  • Ubuhlebezwe: Ixopo, Highflats
  • uMzimkhulu: Umzimkhulu, Ibisi

How to apply in the Harry Gwala District

  1. Contact the office using the details above and ask for the Certificate of Acceptability application form.
  2. Submit it with a certified copy of the ID of the person in charge and a simple layout plan of the premises. Confirm the exact document list when you get the form.
  3. An Environmental Health Practitioner inspects the premises. If something falls short, you get a list to fix and a re-visit.
  4. Display the certificate on the premises once it is issued.

The certificate is not a licence to trade: if you prepare meals or sell perishable food you usually also need a business licence and zoning approval from your local municipality. The food licence lookup explains all three.

Selling food without a registered company?

Most municipalities ask for your business details on the application, and suppliers and landlords will too. Govchain registers your company online for R950, usually within a few days.

Other KwaZulu-Natal offices