Brakpan, a community already cautious about the quality of food sold at local spaza shops, is now reeling from a tragedy that struck the heart of Mandlethu Primary School in Tsakane.
Grade 1 girl dies after eating biscuits bought at Brakpan spaza shop
A young Grade 1 learner’s life was cut short after she allegedly consumed biscuits bought from a spaza shop owned by foreign nationals.
According to the Gauteng Education Department, the learner started vomiting shortly before break time, and despite immediate efforts to provide medical assistance, she was pronounced dead by paramedics upon their arrival.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane expressed devastation over the incident, which occurred on Tuesday, highlighting the urgent need for parents to be vigilant and for law enforcement agencies to ensure stricter compliance with food safety regulations.
“We wish to extend our sincerest condolences to the family and the school community at large,” Chiloane said.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the pupil’s death are still ongoing. The MEC confirmed trauma counselling services would be deployed to the primary school, on Wednesday.
Township informal shops under scrutiny over food safety
This incident is not isolated. The past months have seen a worrying trend of children succumbing to illnesses believed to be caused by food purchased from spaza shops.
In Soweto, another heartbreak unfolded as multiple children died after allegedly eating tainted biscuits, sparking community outrage and accusations against shop owners for selling expired or substandard food.
The surge in fatalities has prompted authorities to scrutinise foreign-owned spaza shops nationwide, amid allegations of selling expired products.
The government has since initiated a nationwide initiative focusing on safeguarding consumer rights and ensuring the safety of products sold in these shops.
High-profile raids have been conducted to inspect and regulate the operations of these establishments.
The intense scrutiny of foreign spaza shop owners comes amid broader concerns over food safety and the illegal sale of expired goods.
Reports of counterfeit goods and the operation of a syndicate pushing local owners out of the market have added to the tension.
With the Health Department taking a firm stance and the Business Regulations and Consumer Protection Unit uncovering tainted food, the message is clear: there’s an urgent need for comprehensive regulation and oversight of the spaza shop industry to prevent further loss of life and ensure community health and safety.