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Gaborone City Council’s (GCC) decision to conduct unannounced inspections at food outlets and retailers as part of its ongoing city upkeep initiative has brought a growing sense of relief and support among Batswana.
The abrupt closure of Fours Bakery in Gaborone West Industrial has sparked a national conversation on food hygiene and safety, with the majority urging the council to extend inspections to other businesses. Without prior notice, health inspectors entered the bakery and discovered unacceptable conditions. Greasy walls, dusty and worn-out kitchen cabinets, and generally unhygienic environments led to immediate action.
Thousands of baked goods were confiscated and destroyed under the Public Health and Food Control Act. The affected items included 4 800 loaves of bread, 4 800 hotdog rolls, 2 700 buns, and 1 024 screw buns. The company, Dabsky Pty Ltd trading as Fours Bakery, now faces charges of operating in unsanitary conditions and employing workers without valid fitness certificates. The public reaction has been swift and vocal. Across social media platforms, Batswana expressed outrage and appreciation, calling for similar inspections at other food establishments, butcheries, and even nightclubs. Lily
Batshegi said that shops run by some Indians and Chinese are always filthy. Their kitchens are unbearable.
“There is no need to rest now. You are doing a great job,” Maungo Motladiie said, encouraging the GCC’s efforts. Mooketsi Mokoni raised concern over the broader food industry, saying, “Where are we supposed to eat if everything is dirty? Even the packaged food on store shelves is questionable. We need to know what is safe. We used to rely on bread from Fours in the mornings. Please give us a safer option,” he said. The City Council's Facebook page that posted the inspection report has now gone viral with over 500 shares, the highest ever since the page was created. Mico Moswang wants all shops checked. “Did you check all the shops with bakeries and restaurants? We are eating dirty food out here,” he said. Bright Mafanetsa added, “What kind of quality is this without health and safety standards?
I doubt those loaves meet any BOBS requirements. It feels like the bread is being treated like it's for pigs,” he complained. Another concerned Motswana, Ofentse Obone, suggested the inspections be conducted every month. “Good job. Make this a monthly thing and help other councils do the same. Please also check butcheries, restaurants, and government kitchens,” he said. Some believe more should have been done to catch other culprits. “You should have surprised a few more supermarkets at the same time. Now they are all scrambling to hide their dirt. I once visited a mall, and even the toilets were filthy.
You can imagine how bad the kitchens must be,” Keller Sekhobe said. Several long-running restaurants were recently fined for mishandling waste, with their managers reacting in frustration. Residents of Gaborone and surrounding areas demand that inspections continue. They wish for routine checks, better enforcement of food safety standards, and visible action when businesses fail to comply.