Food licence lookup / Joe Gqabi
Certificate of Acceptability in the Joe Gqabi District
Food businesses in the 3 local municipalities of the Joe Gqabi District apply for their Certificate of Acceptability at the district’s environmental health office, not at their local municipality.
Joe Gqabi District Municipality
Apply to this district’s environmental health office for your Certificate of Acceptability.
Switchboard. Ask for Municipal Health Services; the district also has offices in its towns.
Cnr Cole and Graham Streets, Barkly East (eKhephini), 9786 (Private Bag X102, Barkly East, 9786)
Cost: Not published. Ask the office when you call.
Covers: Elundini Local Municipality, Senqu Local Municipality, Walter Sisulu Local Municipality
Last verified July 2026. Details changed? Let us know.
Towns this office serves
Wherever you are in these municipalities, Joe Gqabi is your Certificate of Acceptability office:
- Elundini: Maclear, Nqanqarhu, Ugie, Mount Fletcher
- Senqu: Sterkspruit, Lady Grey, Barkly East, Rhodes
- Walter Sisulu: Aliwal North, Maletswai, Burgersdorp, Venterstad, Steynsburg, Jamestown
How to apply in the Joe Gqabi District
- Download the application form above, or contact the office to confirm you have the current version.
- 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.
- An Environmental Health Practitioner inspects the premises. If something falls short, you get a list to fix and a re-visit.
- 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.