Food licence lookup / uThukela

Certificate of Acceptability in the uThukela District

Food businesses in the 3 local municipalities of the uThukela District apply for their Certificate of Acceptability at the district’s environmental health office, not at their local municipality.

uThukela District Municipality

District · KwaZulu-Natal

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

036 638 5100 / 036 638 2400

Switchboard; the Municipal Health Services department is on ext. 5166.

36 Lyell Street, Ladysmith, 3370 (also listed as 33 Forbes Street, Ladysmith)

Cost: R904 for informal premises, R1,130 for formal premises and food vehicles, per the 2025/26 budget tariffs.

Covers: Alfred Duma Local Municipality, Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality, Okhahlamba Local Municipality

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

Towns this office serves

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

  • Alfred Duma: Ladysmith, Ezakheni, Colenso, Emnambithi, Indaka
  • Inkosi Langalibalele: Estcourt, Wembezi, Weenen, Umtshezi, Imbabazane
  • Okhahlamba: Bergville, Winterton, Cathkin Park

How to apply in the uThukela 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