Durban: The Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has appointed Dr Thobile Tobius Poswa, head of the Department of Environmental Health at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), to sit on the newly established Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) on food borne illnesses.
President Cyril Ramaphosa first announced the intent to establish the MAC on November 15, 2024, in response to multiple food borne illness outbreaks that claimed the lives of schoolchildren.
The 15-member committee, officially appointed in early December, will provide expert advice, guidance, and recommendations to the minister and government, ensuring evidence-based decision-making in food safety interventions.
Health Department spokesperson Sello Lediga said the committee comprises leading experts, including doctors, scientists, and academics, who will help shape government policy on food safety.
“The MAC will inform the government of any need for policy refinement, development, and advise on the practicality and effectiveness of food safety interventions to address the needs of communities,” Lediga stated.
In a statement from MUT, Dr Poswa confirmed that the committee has convened twice to develop a strategic plan of action.
He described his appointment as “a great assignment that will require multi-disciplinary players to provide expert information.”
He emphasised the role of the committee in strengthening food safety enforcement and surveillance.
“The committee plays a role in law enforcement and surveillance in food safety and ensures the safeguarding of public health,” he said.
MUT said Dr Poswa is a seasoned environmental health practitioner, a member of the Inter-Provincial Environmental Health Forum, and the coordinator of all environmental health training institutions in South Africa.