Following a spate of accidental poisonings, the Minister of the Presidency urges residents not to shop at unregistered spaza shops.
Khumbudzo Ntshavheni from the Ministry of the Presidency warns that residents frequenting unregistered spaza shops could explain a spate of recent poisonings, reports TimesLive.
Ntshavheni implied that some unregistered spaza shops are being run by foreigners who are in the country illegally, and selling substandard items.
Last week, 22 pupils at Makahlule Primary School in Malamulele, Limpopo, were rushed to hospital due to suspected food poisoning, according to a Business Day report.
They’ve been treated and discharged, and the Limpopo department of education is investigating the cause of the incident.
Sick pupils were rushed to a nearby clinic when they started vomiting, before being transferred to Malamulele Hospital.
Not long ago, five children died after consuming snacks allegedly bought at a tuck shop in Naledi, Soweto. This followed closely the case of three children dying from suspected food poisoning in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape.
Ntshavheni said to the media this week: “We must take a decision as society that we are not buying at unregistered spaza shops when we are not sure where their products come from.”
Formerly the minister of small business development, Ntshavheni says the department should come down hard on unregister spaza shops.
During her tenure during the COVID-19 pandemic, all spaza shops and informal businesses could register for free if the proprietors could prove their residency/citizenship.
To protect yourself, the minister urges residents to check for certification at any spaza shop, street vendor or informal retailer before purchasing food items.
Court action a few years ago made it legal for illegal foreigner nationals to operate businesses in South Africa. Even after municipal officials conducted raids, confiscated and dumped uncertified foods, some of it expired.
“We must decide what are the best interests for our children and our own lives rather than buying cheap fake products because it’s all we can afford.”
“The departments of home affairs, labour and employment must make inspections to ensure all businesses operating in townships are registered,” concluded Ntshavheni.
