'Government moving slowly': KZN religious leaders on food contamination incidents
KZN's Bishop Sandile Ndlela said it shouldn't have taken the deaths of children for government to act.
FILE: A spaza shop. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/Eyewitness News
DURBAN - Despite the government having classified foodborne illnesses as a national disaster, some religious leaders in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) say more needs to be done.
They supported uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party’s march against illegal foreign nationals in Durban on Friday.
There are calls for the government to fund locals to start their own shops in a bid to get rid of undocumented immigrants.
READ: Frustrated Sharpeville residents call for spaza shops to be returned to local businessmen
Bishop Sandile Ndlela said, "A lot of our children have died after being sold expired products and government is moving slow on this matter, hence why as the community we’ve now decided to stand against these spaza shops. Enough is enough."
[WATCH] Despite @GDCoGTA having classified the foodborne illnesses linked to the death of several children nationwide as a national disaster, Bishop Sandile Ndlela says government has not taken any concrete steps on the issue of foodborne illness in the country. @_NMabaso pic.twitter.com/NuDqlX3aqL
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) November 22, 2024
Meanwhile, the MK Party's Women’s League said that the deaths of children due to foodborne illness should be the government's wake-up call on illegal foreigners.
The league said that it had been public knowledge that some shops owned by foreign nationals sold food that was unsafe for consumption.
The party said it should not have taken the deaths of children for the government to do its job.
MK Party’s eThekwini Women League Convenor, Pearl Gasa said, "There have been numerous instances where products appear to be within their expiry date on the label yet inside the packaging they contain harmful substances."
Gasa wants the government to protect people from foodborne illnesses.
"A more robust system of inspection is necessary to safeguard public health and prevent further harm. The ongoing sale of poisonous food is a direct threat to people and wellbeing."