Health inspection blitz expected at Soweto spaza shops after deaths of 6 children
The children allegedly ate snacks they bought from a local business in Naledi last week.
Screengrab of closed spaza shop in Naledi, Soweto, from EWN Reporter video
JOHANNESBURG - Health inspections are expected across Soweto spaza shops this week after six children died in a suspected food poisoning case.
The children allegedly ate snacks they bought from a local business in Naledi last week.
The National Consumer Commission (NCC) started its work in the area on Monday.
ALSO READ: Consumer Goods Council roped in to probe deaths of six Naledi children
Three undocumented foreign nationals were arrested on Monday in Naledi, Soweto, following compliance inspections of six spaza shops.
The inspections were carried out by officials from the NCC, Johannesburg Environmental Health, Home Affairs, and the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Inspector at the NCC Tebogo Motseta outlined some of the things they found.
"The suppliers are selling expired goods and some of the goods don’t even have the proper labelling in terms of proper branding, and that’s very important."
He said concerns about live-in tenants were also raised.
"Colleagues from Environmental Health also noted concerns of shop owners sleeping inside the shop premises."
He said a list of compliance issues was presented to the spaza shop owners, which they would need to resolve this week upon another inspection.
Inspectors believe this bottle of baby purity, confiscated by officials from the National Consumer Commission, in #Naledi, #Soweto, is expired - given its consistency. This is despite the expiry date being labeled as at the end of November. pic.twitter.com/Iq1W1HQNSx
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) October 14, 2024