Heading the call to address the recent scourge of food poisoning that has claimed more than 20 lives, President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered the immediate closure of all spaza shops linked to the deaths of children. He has also mandated that all spaza shops be registered within 21 days and any non-compliant establishments be promptly shut down and the owners arrested.
CLOSE SHOP
Ramaphosa said due to the recent food poisoning outbreaks, measures will be implemented with immediate effect. "To get hazardous pesticides off the street," he said adding that, "We have directed that these shops, which have been implicated in the deaths of childre be closed with immediate effect." The President added that all spaza shops and other food handling facilities be registered within municipalities in which they operate within 21 days. "From today, any shop that is not registered within 21 days and does not meet all health standards and requirements will be closed. The South African Police Service and other law enforcement agencies will be required to investigate, arrest and prosecute offenders. This will involve a close cooperation with all registered manufacturer retailers and suppliers and integrated multidisciplinary inspection teams to undertake compliance and inspection of all spaza shops," he said.
BE CAUTIOUS
Ramaphosa also urged parents to be cautious of where they buy food. "As consumers and parents, if we buy food or send our children to buy food, it must only be from places that are licensed to sell foodstuffs and that observe food safety regulations. We must check that food is prepared in a clean and hygienic area. We must make sure that foodstuffs being sold have clear branding and labels and that they are not past their sell-by date," he said. The President also encouraged parents to educate children about food safety and teach them to check for labelling themselves. "Anyone who sees fake foodstuffs and expired foodstuffs being sold in our communities should report them to the National Consumer Commission," he said.
