GP govt to deploy food inspectors to monitor spaza shops in townships
Since the beginning of October, there have been several cases in townships across Gauteng, of children facing medical complications after eating snacks from street vendors and spaza shops.
The families of five children who died on Sunday after allegedly consuming chips from a local spaza shop in Naledi, Soweto, are looking for closure.
JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng government says it’s in the process of deploying a team of food inspectors to monitor spaza shops in townships.
This follows the deaths of six children in Naledi, Soweto, after they ate snacks from a local store.
Health officials have identified a chemical known as organophosphate as a suspected cause of the deaths.
Since the beginning of October, there have been several cases in townships across Gauteng, of children facing medical complications after eating snacks from street vendors and spaza shops.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said Finance MEC Lebogang Maile has been tasked with engaging local businesses to develop solutions to what he describes as the sale of expired foods.
On Wednesday, he shared a report on his administration’s first 100 days in office.
“A multidisciplinary team's investigation revealed the use of an illegal chemical to contaminate food in some of the township's spaza shops in Gauteng, prompting immediate action. We are mobilising food inspectors throughout the province to prevent the sale of expired foods to our children and to ensure proper registration of all spaza shops in our areas.”
While health officials have identified a chemical linked to the deaths of six children in Naledi – they say no traces of the chemical were found on the snacks they ate.
Lesufi said investigations would hopefully uncover how the children came into contact with the chemical.