Save South Africa Civic Movement wants state of emergency declared over food contamination cases

JOHANNESBURG - The Save South Africa Civic Movement has again called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a state of emergency over rising food contamination cases.

The growing calls follow a spate of cases across the country involving school children.

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Six children from Naledi in Soweto died in October after buying snacks contaminated with a restricted pesticide.

The tally of deaths in Gauteng alone has since jumped to 12, while scores more children have also been hospitalised in several provinces.

Spokesperson for Save South Africa Civic Movement, Tebogo Mashilompane, said that government’s inaction was worrying.

 “We are not here to disrespect Mr Ramaphosa as the president but we are concerned at his lack of action attitude especially when children are dying in numbers while others remain hospitalised."

Mashilompane said that a failure to address previous calls for a state of emergency may have added to the crisis.

"Our shock emanates from the fact that children are dying and some are, hospitalised almost daily, but the president, who is the number one protector, decides to keep quiet and continue to attend to issues in other countries as if we do not have our own crises in South Africa."