Officials in South Africa have urged action after the deaths of five children linked to eating food from local shops.
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety called on law enforcement to clamp down on the sale of expired food in spaza shops. These sites are also called tuck shops and are informal grocery stores.
“The committee is deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of five school children. This tragic incident highlights the urgent need for stricter enforcement of bylaws to prevent the sale of expired and harmful goods, particularly in township areas, where many spaza shops, including those owned by illegal foreign nationals operate with little or no monitoring by metro police officers and relevant authorities,” the group said in a statement.
“The committee strongly condemns the continued sale of expired and fake goods which pose a serious threat to the health and safety of our communities, especially vulnerable children. The irresponsible behavior of some spaza shop owners who put profits above the wellbeing of the community is intolerable. It is essential that law enforcement agencies conduct regular inspections to monitor compliance and that immediate actions are taken against those found violating these laws.”
The committee also called on authorities, including the Department of Health, to intensify inspections to ensure that all food products sold in spaza shops are safe and have not past their expiry dates.
Large scale problem
In September, the Gauteng Department of Health said 207 food poisoning cases affecting children had been reported across the province since February 2024 and 10 people had died.
“The department is deeply concerned with the rising incidents of the deaths of children related to foodborne illnesses,” said Gauteng Member of the Executive Council for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.
In October 2023, the agency confirmed the deaths of at least five children due to suspected foodborne sources.
The Inkatha Freedom Party expressed its condolences to the families of children who died, allegedly due to food poisoning, after consuming snacks bought at a spaza shop in Naledi, Soweto.
“The fact that these fatalities are not the first of their kind in the community of Naledi, is telling of the kind of uncaring attitude and impunity with which these unscrupulous spaza shops operate. Their actions in overlooking basic environmental health and the food health and safety standards of their products, shows little to no regard for the wellbeing of their consumers,” the group said in a statement.
The political party condemned the sale of unsafe food in informal settlement areas and urged authorities to conduct more inspections.
The Democratic Alliance called on the Department of Community Safety to partner with municipalities in monitoring compliance with health and safety regulations across all types of businesses, including spaza shops.
The political party also urged parents and communities to protect children by reporting suspicious products or practices by spaza shops to the authorities.
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