Thembisa Shologu
The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) is collaborating with public health experts to assess the extent of a growing public health concern following the recent deaths of children in townships after consuming snacks from foreign-owned shops.
This investigation comes after the tragic deaths of six children in Naledi, Soweto, who died after consuming snacks purchased from a foreign-owned business, raising tensions between local communities and foreign merchants across the province.
At a media briefing on Sunday, held at the Gauteng Infrastructure Financing Agency (GIFA) offices in Sandton, MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile expressed concern over violent incidents where foreign-owned spaza shops were forcibly shut down and looted by residents.
Maile noted that these unfortunate events are exacerbating tensions and disrupting the township economy, contributing significantly to Gauteng’s GDP.
“This was the second incident of this nature in just a month, with four children having died in Tshwane and Ekurhuleni at the beginning of September; but while the stories that trend are those where there are casualties, there have also been numerous cases where healthcare workers have been able to save children’s lives.
“The illnesses and deaths of young children in townships is a severe cause for concern to the GPG. While the provincial government awaits official autopsies to gain a clearer understanding of what precisely is killing and making children sick in our townships after they consume products from foreign-owned enterprises, we are also engaging with public health experts to understand the potential magnitude of the problem,” said Maile.
Maile expressed his distress over these events’ negative impact on public health, the economy, and social cohesion.
He revealed that between February and September of this year, there have been 207 reported cases of food poisoning in Gauteng townships. These incidents have occurred across all regions of the province, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem.
“We need to protect the economic interest of our country and its citizens. Unfortunately, it becomes terrible when citizens feel unsafe in their own country because they feel that our visitors are, instead, the perpetrators of these crimes. We must act decisively and unapologetically.
“Spaza shops that are not selling correct things must be closed. I agree with you, but you don’t wake up and say we close all the foreign-owned shops. That matter has become so complicated,” he said.
The MEC also shared frustrations raised by municipalities regarding the reopening of spaza shops after being shut down, highlighting the challenges of enforcing compliance.
“South Africa is governed by law and the media, and the Human Rights Commission will be the first people to go at the government if we close people’s shops without following any process and all that. We need to be relentless; we need to be more systematic, and we need to be more aggressive in implementing the law.
“The other day, I was in Tembisa. We walked into one of the foreign-owned shops it’s foreign-owned, but the Bangladeshi citizen now has South African citizenship. This has become more complex.”
In response to the crisis, the provincial government, in partnership with the United Soweto Township Economy Forum, has launched public awareness campaigns and consumer education initiatives in Soweto and surrounding townships.
A multi-disciplinary inspection team, including the Gauteng Economic Development Consumer Affairs Unit (GOCA) and law enforcement agencies, has also been established to ensure compliance with health regulations and the Consumer Protection Act.
“While the provincial government awaits official autopsies to gain a clearer understanding of what precisely is killing and making children sick in our townships after they consume products from foreign-owned enterprises, we are also engaging with public health experts to understand the potential magnitude of the problem.
“This is in light of the autopsies from last year’s deaths indicating that an illegal substance used for the control of rodents, ‘Halephirimi’, is the likely cause of death. While we await details on the recent incidents, we also appeal to parents and communities to not use ‘Halephirimi’ for rodent and pest control as the substance is extremely harmful, particularly to vulnerable groups such as children,” added MEC Maile.
SOURCED FROM GPG WEBSITE.
