On Thursday, several pupils from Mshuluzane Mayisela Primary School in Bronkhorstspruit were rushed to hospital after eating food bought from a local spaza shop.
Story Summary:
- Pupils in Bronkhorstspruit were hospitalised after consuming food from a local spaza shop, sparking community outrage.
- In Sharpeville, protests have escalated, with foreign-owned spaza shops being looted and shut down.
- These events are part of ongoing unrest in Gauteng, linked to similar incidents in Soweto and Naledi over non-compliant spaza shops.
Bronkhorstspruit food poisoning news: Here’s what we know so far
Reports from emergency services confirm that the children complained of abdominal pain, with symptoms ranging from mild to moderate.
Conflicting accounts have surfaced about the exact number of pupils affected, but Gauteng emergency services responded swiftly at around 08:30.
Community members reacted strongly, shutting down the shop accused of selling expired food.
The situation in Bronkhorstspruit is still unfolding, and investigations are underway to confirm whether the food was indeed contaminated.
Foreign-owned spaza shops attacked in Sharpeville
This latest incident in Bronkhorstspruit adds to the unrest currently unfolding in Sharpeville, where foreign-owned spaza shops are under siege from residents.
Thursday saw an escalation of tensions, with protestors looting shops and blocking roads throughout the historic township.
The community has voiced their frustration, claiming that foreign shop owners sell expired goods and drain the local economy by sending money out of the country.
According to police reports, the unrest turned violent on Wednesday when a local businessman was shot and killed.
While it remains unclear if the incident is directly linked to the protests, the situation has only intensified, with residents maintaining that foreign shopkeepers must leave the township.
The unrest in Sharpeville mirrors previous incidents in Soweto and Naledi, where tensions erupted after six children died from allegedly consuming contaminated snacks bought from spaza shops.
In response, authorities launched raids, arresting shop owners found with expired goods.
The National Consumer Commission (NCC) and Gauteng Health Department have since been conducting inspections to ensure compliance with safety standards.