Ramaphosa orders immediate closure of all spaza shops linked to child deaths as food poisoning cases grow

“Twenty-one days? Impossible! In Soweto alone, there are over 1,000 spaza shops, the rest of the country even more. It’s not going to be easy. Many spaza shops are operating in residential areas and they are not being monitored by health inspectors. It’s going to be a huge task to eliminate what is currently the status quo.”

These were the words of National Informal Traders Alliance of South Africa (NITASA) chairperson Rasheda Muller, in response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of interventions the government plans to undertake as the nation has been inundated with deadly food poisoning incidents linked to spaza shops.

Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Friday, 15 November, outlining the ambitious interventions. Chief among them include the immediate closure of spaza shops linked to the death of children, and the re-registration of all spaza shops within 21 days. Unregistered shops that do not meet health standards will be closed after 21 days.

The President’s address to the nation comes as food poisoning cases grow in all provinces. Ramaphosa confirmed that since September, 890 incidents of food-borne illnesses have been reported nationwide, with Gauteng and Kwazulu-Natal leading the field.

In Gauteng alone, more than 441 food contamination incidents allegedly linked to spaza shops have been recorded since the beginning of the year. The cases have resulted in 23 deaths, mostly children.

Several cases have been reported in Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal, Limpopo and Free State. The food poisoning incidents and fatalities range from biological (poorly prepared, stored or expired foods) to chemical (poisoning from pesticides).

In October 2024, six children were tragically killed after allegedly consuming snacks bought from a local spaza shop in Naledi, Soweto. Toxicology reports revealed that Terbufos, a highly toxic organophosphate meant solely for agricultural use but often illegally sold as a street pesticide, caused the deaths of the Naledi children.

Following these deaths, a multi-disciplinary team consisting of the SAPS, health officials, environmental inspectors, Department of Agriculture officials and officials from the National Consumer Commission were mobilised to Soweto to inspect spaza shops in the area.

Ramaphosa said samples were taken from 84 spaza shops during the inspection and the test revealed that three spaza shops had evidence of Terbufos use.

“After stringent testing, a chip packet found on one of the children who had died had traces of Terbufos on both the inside and the outside of the packet,” Ramaphosa said.

He said to get pesticides off the streets, all spaza shops, tuck shops and other informal traders will be subject to door-to-door inspections, to be completed within a month, starting in Gauteng and KwaZaulu-Natal.

Read more: Gauteng’s new spaza shop by-laws: a necessary move amid rising food safety concerns

However, Ramaphosa also acknowledged that several municipalities are grappling with capacity constraints and don’t have the resources to conduct inspections and enforce regulations.

While NITASA chairperson Muller lamented that it took the death of 23 children to motivate government to take a strong stance on the regulation of spaza shops, Muller also said that NITASA was willing to offer a helping hand, as long as government comes to the table.

“We are organisations on the ground, we have many members who can assist if the government provides the necessary resources and capacitation for our leadership,” Muller said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa. (Photo: Siyabulela Duda GCIS)

Other interventions

The recent deaths spurred widely welcomed action from national government, with Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa gazetting a new by-law to develop and regulate township economies.

The legislation seeks to regulate township businesses owned by foreign nationals, balance the rights of business owners with consumers’ rights to a safe environment, and empower municipalities to set standards and support township businesses.

Ramaphosa said that following a special Cabinet meeting, the government will undertake the following interventions with immediate effect:

• Get hazardous pesticides off the street

Non-compliant businesses and shops linked to any poisoning incidents or found to unlawfully stock hazardous chemicals will be shut down.

Additionally, regulations and protocols on the traceability, repackaging, destruction and sale of pesticides, insecticides and foodstuffs will be strengthened.

• Protect children from exposure to these substances

A circular will be issued by the Department of Basic Education, which will inform Provincial Education Departments and all schools on best practice protocols for preventing and managing foodborne illnesses within schools.

The guidelines for schools on the management of suppliers of foodstuffs to public schools will be reviewed and updated by the beginning of the new school year.

A public education programme on food safety and the identification, handling and storage of dangerous chemicals will be launched.

• Prevent future outbreaks

Local municipalities have been directed to address the problem of rat infestations by cleaning cities and towns and removing waste.
All deaths of patients 12 years and younger will be made notifiable in the Notifiable Medical Condition Surveillance System.

Ramaposa added that the Department of Agriculture was in the process of reviewing and updating all relevant legislation with respect to the regulation and authorisation of agricultural pesticides for use in South Africa.

Additionally,  the Departments of Trade, Industry and Competition and Small Business Development will establish a joint fund of R500-million to support township and rural businesses. These funds will be used to refurbish businesses and offer non-financial support, including technical skills, regulatory compliance and capacity building.

“Once again, South Africans are called upon to work together to overcome a great difficulty. But we are far from helpless. There is much we can do. Each of us needs to be better informed about the risks of pesticides and other dangerous products. Each of us needs to take responsibility for the safety and well-being of those around us, particularly the children of our nation. By working together, by enforcing the law, by being alert and responsible, we will be able to bring an end to these tragedies,” Ramaphosa said. DM