As South Africa grapples with a growing epidemic of food poisoning, the fate of informal food outlets, particularly spaza shops, hangs delicately in the balance. Recent statistics reveal that over 20 lives were tragically lost due to food poisoning last year. Last week, over 200 children from Kagisho Secondary School, in Free State, were hospitalised after a suspected food poisoning outbreak. This incident added to the about 3 000 suspected food poisoning cases reported to the Notifiable Medical Conditions System recently.
Recent investigations into food poisoning cases pointed to hazardous pesticides as the catalyst behind the incidents. While these chemicals are often used for rodent control, their presence in food has raised health concerns. In light of this, President Cyril Ramaphosa has initiated a directive requiring that all food-handling outlets, including spaza shops, register with their local municipalities. This initiative aims to bolster food safety compliance, yet the implications of such regulations have ignited heated discussions across the country.
One major point of contention is the order mandating spaza owners to provide approved building plans, a requirement many deem unrealistic given the widespread existence of informal settlements. These densely populated areas frequently serve as breeding grounds for rodents and insects and are characterised by poor infrastructure, including unreliable sanitation and inadequate waste disposal systems. For many spaza owners, these challenges make compliance a daunting task.
Spaza shops are more than just commercial enterprises; they represent essential services for many residents who normally face long journeys to acquire basic supplies. Ramaphosa has banned pesticides from circulation to protect populations, particularly children. However, closing down non-compliant spaza shops does not address the causes of the food poisoning crisis.
By last December, only about 51 000 spaza shops had been registered countrywide. It's estimated that South Africa has about 150 000 spazas. This means that over 100 000 non-compliant spazas risk closure. Furthermore, the stipulation that spazas operate in rezoned areas or to secure the necessary certificates adds another layer of difficulty.
The illicit spaza trade will only thrive where legitimate avenues are inaccessible or too difficult to pursue. As we await the outcomes of the investigations into the Free State food poisoning incident, we ask: where will the food poisoning incident strike next?