3 June 2025 – Wits Business School (WBS) has announced that it will join forces with key industry stakeholders and thought leaders to launch the first Food Safety Leadership Initiative (FSLI) on the continent.
The announcement was made today by Prof Maurice Radebe, Director and Head of WBS, at the opening of the South African Food Safety SummitTM 2025 held in Johannesburg, an entity that is owned and hosted by Anelich Consulting. According to Professor Radebe, the FSLI will implement a systems-based approach to addressing food safety in South Africa and globally, with a focus on both the formal and informal sectors. Dr Lucia Anelich, a global food safety leader and strategist, past president of the South African Association of Food Science and Technology and founding member of the FSLI, says that “there is an increased sense of urgency in finding long-terms solutions to food safety, particularly given the issue of food safety in townships where millions of people live, purchase and consume food locally as well as several recalls that have recently occurred. Now is the time to elevate food safety to Board level”.
According to Ravi Pillay, former Nestlé executive and co-founder of the FSLI, the fallout from the deadly listeriosis outbreak of 2017 and the death of more than 20 children over the last two years in townships from food poisoning have highlighted the need for a more collaborative leadership approach to food safety in South Africa.
“Food safety is the responsibility of every stakeholder, from government agencies to small-scale shop owners. The recent tragic events in South Africa highlight once again that food safety demands leadership beyond the siloed models that currently dominate our industry.” Professor Logan Rangasamy, Academic Director at WBS said that the school is thrilled at the opportunity to play an active role in the future of food safety in South Africa through its healthcare leadership programmes such as the MBA in Healthcare Leadership, a cutting-edge master’s programme that was launched in 2024.
“We are committed to enhancing our current healthcare curricula by integrating best practices in food safety leadership, and to collaborating with other institutions through research, dialogue, and practical interventions in this critical field. The FSLI will provide an essential platform for convening all stakeholders to address food safety leadership in a comprehensive and integrated manner.”
Professor Radebe added that the Initiative aligns with the school’s commitment to the sustainable development goals – particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), as well as WBS’s commitment to the Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME).
“This initiative is an exciting opportunity for WBS to partner with like-minded leaders and organisations to develop a new framework of food safety leadership. “I believe the FSLI will have a lasting impact on the future safety and wellbeing of our communities while contributing to global goals of sustainability and responsible business practices.”