As numerous families across South Africa deal with cases of children falling sick of food-borne illnesses and some dying, Gauteng Finance MEC Lebogang Maile has called for “drastic” action to stop the crisis.
In the latest incident, among many, The Star reported this week that residents of Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, are demanding the closure of spaza shops operated by illegal immigrants following the tragic death of 11-year-old Lesedi Mulaudi.
Mulaudi reportedly died after consuming poisonous snacks purchased from a spaza shop near her home on Saturday evening. Her mother, Maria, and her four-year-old sister, Fentse, who also ingested the same snacks, are currently recovering in hospital.
In an interview with broadcaster Newzroom Afrika, Maile said the situation was out of control.
“Whether you call it a state of emergency or disaster – there has to be drastic action because this situation has gone out of control. It’s a crisis,” said Maile.
“Two weeks ago, when we had a press conference we did indicate about the state of lawlessness in a lot of the townships and that a lot, if not most of these shops are not even registered. They are not adhering to some of the laws in those townships.”
He conceded that government has lot of work to do in supporting and regulating the township economies and to ensure compliance with laws.
Maile and other government officials have visited the numerous grieving families in Gauteng, and expressed their condolences and support.
On Tuesday, Maile said the state of disaster he was calling for would include closing all the spaza shops in the townships.
“If I had to do things my way, firstly I would just close everything and then we start from the beginning so that those shops that are not located in proper areas, which are on pavements, shops that have no licences … everyone would have to start from the beginning,” he said.
“We now start looking at the whole value chain. Where are these products being sold in the shops being manufactured? Once they are on the shelves, it is a bit too late. There is a whole range of things that would have to happen.”
The MEC said the communities would also have to be included in conversations, to get their input and suggestions.
He said if he had his way, all the spaza shop owners would have to re-apply for licences to operate and then strict verification would be done before new licences are issued.
IOL reported on Monday that the Ndlovu family from the Cabhane village in uMzumbe on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast is also mourning the loss of three children who died after experiencing symptoms associated with food poisoning last week.
IOL