Over a dozen children have died due to suspected food poisoning in Gauteng since February.
This as five reportedly died from poisoning in Soweto this week.
Four learners from Karabo Primary School and one from Khauhelo Primary School in Naledi, Soweto died after eating snacks bought from a spaza shop owned by foreign nationals.
The children – Monica Sebetwane, Zinhle Ida Maama, Njabulo Msimango, Isago Mabote and Karabo Rampou – were aged between six and eight, while another, a grade one learner at Karabo Primary School is still in intensive care unit fighting for his life at a local medical facility.
The tragic incident, which is under police investigation, sparked widespread protests and the closure of a number of shops, some of whose owners were safely escorted out of the township after the incident last Sunday.
Other schools also issued communication appealing to parents to reprimand their children from purchasing food from street vendors, which was described as an unsavoury practice.
”There have been numerous tragedies reported in this regard and we certainly do not want to become part of this undesirable statistic,” one Johannesburg school warned parents last week.
Last month, the Gauteng department of health also cautioned parents and caregivers, pleading with them to exercise extreme caution to ensure their children’s safety after a surge in the number of food poisoning cases in townships, informal settlements and hostels.
This followed the deaths in Tshwane of two siblings, aged four and six, who died of a suspected food borne illness after sharing pap and soup at home.
In Vosloorus, three children, between the ages of three and six, fell ill after sharing potato chips bought by their uncle and later showing symptoms of food poisoning.
Two of the children, aged three and five, died on arrival at the Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital.
According to the provincial health department, a total of 207 food poisoning cases affecting children have been reported across Gauteng between February and August this year and these resulted in 10 deaths.
The majority of the incidents occurred in Ekurhuleni (119 cases, four deaths), Johannesburg (40 cases), Tshwane (31 cases, three deaths), West Rand (14 cases) and Sedibeng (three cases, three deaths).
The figures increased this week following the Naledi poising incident and the falling ill of 74 female matric pupils, aged between 17 and 20, from Fochville Secondary School, Badirile Secondary School and Wedela Technical School at a pre-examinations camp after showing similar symptoms of stomach cramps and diarrhoea.
The provincial health department has expressed concern with the repeated incidents and is working closely with relevant authorities to raise more awareness in communities.
The continued deaths of children allegedly after consuming food suspected to contain poison has sparked intensified calls for stricter law enforcement and regular inspections to stop the sale of products unfit for human consumption.
Dr Bandile Masuku, chairperson of the Gauteng provincial legislature’s portfolio committee on community safety, blamed the continued loss of life partly due to the failures of law enforcement agencies to fulfil their responsibility of conducting regular inspections and ensuring compliance by spaza shops.
”This lack of monitoring puts communities at risk and undermines the very fabric of public health and safety,” Masuku said.
He further called on the Department of Health to intensify health inspections to ensure that all food products sold in spaza shops was safe for consumption and had not exceeded expiry dates.
The Gauteng Office of Consumer Affairs has urged communities not to buy or eat products that are not clearly labelled as well as report these to the entity of the provincial department of economic development.
Among the key red flags is when food products have no date markings, manufacturer contact details, name and/or address visible on the packaging.
In terms of the Consumer Protection Act, consumers have a right to product labelling and trade description, which prohibits suppliers from selling expired goods to consumers, or tampering with the expiry/best-before dates to mislead consumers.
The entity recently launched the Qondis’ishishini Lakho – Fix Your Business compliance campaign to push businesses to comply with consumer laws and regulations or risk having compliance notices issued and fines levied against them for violating consumer laws and health regulations.
The City of Johannesburg has also dismissed accusations that it is not fulfilling its mandate, stating that in Soweto alone its officials conducted 4 149 inspections between July 2023 and June this year.
Trade union federation Cosatu supported calls for proactive measures to ensure the safety of food products sold in local spaza shops, regardless of who the owners are.
”Regular inspections, strict adherence to health and safety standards and community awareness campaigns can contribute to preventing such tragic incidents in the future,” Cosatu said.
DA Gauteng education spokesperson Sergio Isa dos Santos blamed the incidents on the provincial government, saying it has failed to conduct regular inspections of food items in spaza shops.
Dos Santos said this has put the lives of Gauteng residents at risk.
He said the DA has urged the government to collaborate with municipalities to conduct regular inspections and act against non-compliant spaza shops and supermarkets.
“However, the Gauteng government has failed to act, leading to more lives being lost,” he said.
“The DA restates its previous demand for the Department of Community Safety, now headed by premier Panyaza Lesufi, to partner with municipalities in monitoring compliance with health and safety regulations across all types of businesses, including spaza shops.
“We also urge parents and communities to protect their children by reporting suspicious products or practices by spaza shops to the authorities. Only a concerted effort will help us win the fight against illegal spaza shops selling unregulated food,” said dos Santos.
EFF leader Julius Malema indicated that the party expected a detailed report on the Naledi incident to be submitted by its member, City of Johannesburg member of the mayoral committee for public safety Dr Mgcini Tshwaku.
Asked to share information on how many shops were in compliance, national Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) spokesperson Legadima Leso referred questions to Gauteng Gogta’s Theo Nkonki, who sent a message from the head of department that to get such information would take at least a week.
Gauteng police spokesperson Mavela Masondo did not respond to questions on the status of previous cases and the number of arrests made.
Sunday Independent
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