Soweto business owners say govt ignoring their ideas on curbing food poisoning cases
Disgruntled community members and business leaders spent hours in dialogue with the Economic Development Department on Monday, urging the government to act.
Image of a spaza shop in Naledi, where five children died within minutes of each other after allegedly consuming goods from one of the shops. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Business owners in Soweto claim the government is ignoring their proposed solutions to curb food poisoning cases.
Disgruntled community members and business leaders spent hours in dialogue with the Economic Development Department on Monday, urging the government to act.
Led by MEC Lebogang Maile, the engagement follows a series of food poisoning cases allegedly linked to foreign-owned spaza shops.
Just two weeks ago, residents of Naledi buried six children who died from suspected food poisoning. It's believed they had previously eaten poisoned snacks from a local spaza shop.
"You can't do township without us. We are the township economy, the economy is us. You can't design programmes in the offices without engaging with us on the ground," said one business owner.
"Some of us are looking at how black ideas are being hijacked," another resident said.