Ramaphosa says government has approved a proclamation to regulate spaza shops
Dozens of children in the country have lost their lives to the suspected consumption of contaminated foods sold at spaza shops, with hundreds others hospitalised.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed a public ceremony where he signed the National Health Insurance Bill into law at the Union Buildings in Tswhane on 15 May 2024. Picture: GCIS
DURBAN - President Cyril Ramaphosa says a proclamation to regulate spaza shops has been approved and will be spearheaded by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) to address the growing scourge of food-borne illnesses and deaths across the country.
On Friday, Ramaphosa addressed the presidential community imbizo held in Umgababa, south of Durban.
Dozens of children in the country have lost their lives to the suspected consumption of contaminated foods sold at spaza shops, with hundreds others hospitalised.
Addressing a gathering of thousands of community members, the president highlighted the recklessness of spaza shops.
Various parts of the country have been battling rising incidents of foodborne illness – most of which have been recorded at some schools.
Some learners have died and others hospitalised in what is increasingly becoming a crisis in the country.
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Concluding the presidential Imbizo Ramaphosa said his government is giving the matter, the attention it deserves.
"This matter is being addressed at the highest level, it’s being raised by several parents - our people."
The president also highlighted a lack of health and safety measures from spaza shops.
"We have in the past few weeks lost a number of school children who have died as a result of some chemical that has been found in the food or the snacks that have been eating and buying from spaza shops."
Ramaphosa added that COGTA Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has been tasked to deal with the issue.
EDUCATION ACTIVISTS WELCOME GOVT'S INTERVENTION
Meanwhile, education activist Hendrick Makaneta has praised the government’s newly introduced regulations to improve food safety and hygiene at spaza shops.
The move forms part of government efforts to tackle the alarming rise of foodborne illnesses affecting communities, particularly schoolchildren.
Makaneta says the regulations are a crucial step forward in protecting the health of citizens, especially learners.