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Deaths of five children in Naledi underscore need for urgent action on food safety

Deaths of five children in Naledi underscore need for urgent action on food safety
Ravi Pillay
By Ravi Pillay
14 Oct 2024
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Food safety is a farm-to-fork responsibility. This tragedy reminds us that every stakeholder, from government agencies to small-scale shop owners, must be engaged and supported.

The tragic deaths of six children in Naledi, Soweto, after allegedly consuming snacks from a local spaza shop, underscore a sobering reality I highlighted in my previous article with Dr Lucia Anelich in Daily Maverick: food safety is not merely a policy issue – it is a matter of life and death.

In that article, we emphasised the need for a systems approach to food safety – an approach that goes beyond individual entities and addresses the interconnected challenges across our entire food chain. Unfortunately, these recent events reveal that we are still far from achieving this.

Dr Anelich and I argued then that food safety demands leadership beyond the siloed models that currently dominate our industry. This tragedy in Soweto reinforces that message.

Investigations and inquests, while necessary, must not be the end goal. Instead, we need collaborative structures that bring together government, local business owners and community leaders.

The establishment of community-led food safety committees could be a critical step forward. Such committees would act as bridges between local authorities and residents, ensuring inspections are not just occasional but regular and transparent.

In the earlier article, we pointed to the need for holistic strategies in stabilising regions affected by crises, from disruptions in the supply chain to community unrest. This current situation shows how crucial it is to extend those holistic strategies to informal and semi-formal sectors, like the spaza shops that many residents depend on for daily sustenance.

A holistic approach to food safety: From farm to spaza


The food safety systems we have in place for formal markets must extend to these smaller vendors. It is not enough to inspect and penalise only larger players when informal businesses remain outside the regulatory fold.

As highlighted before, food safety is a farm-to-fork responsibility. This tragedy reminds us that every stakeholder, from government agencies to small-scale shop owners, must be engaged and supported.

Local governments need to prioritise these shops, providing training programmes that equip owners with the knowledge and tools to meet food safety standards. Collaboration must replace confrontation.

We cannot afford to perpetuate the cycle of outrage, investigation, and inaction; this only leads to more loss and deteriorating trust within communities. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s visit to Naledi is a step in the right direction, but it should be part of a comprehensive and sustained strategy to ensure compliance and build trust.

Continuing the momentum: education, technology and transparency


We also previously highlighted the role of education in strengthening food safety awareness. In Soweto and in all such areas, the need for this is more urgent than ever.

We must empower residents through educational programmes that promote basic food safety practices and raise awareness about the potential risks. Concurrently, shop owners – regardless of nationality – need access to support systems and resources that help them upgrade their facilities and comply with safety regulations.

The integration of technology, as I discussed previously, could also be a game-changer. Tools like blockchain could offer real-time tracking for products sold at spaza shops, ensuring that any contamination source is quickly identified and addressed. This kind of transparency is essential to restore and build trust between communities, vendors, and authorities.

Taking action now: from words to implementation


We have the frameworks and tools outlined in our last piece; now is the time to implement them. The deaths of six innocent children should serve as a rallying cry to transform our words into meaningful actions.

We must build collaborative networks that bridge the divide between informal and formal markets, ensuring that every child in Soweto – and indeed, South Africa – has access to safe and nutritious food.

Let us heed the lessons from both these tragedies and the insights shared before. By acting decisively and with urgency, we can create a food safety culture that transcends borders, uniting communities, businesses and governments. Together, we can prevent further loss and build a resilient and responsive food system for all. DM

Ravi Pillay has a 25-year association with the FMCG sector and is a former adviser to the chairperson of Nestlé East and southern Africa. He is currently a Gordon Institute of Business Science faculty member endeavouring to bridge the gap between business and academia, as well as a non-executive board member at Food Forward South Africa and the Consumer Goods and Service Ombud.

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