President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed South Africans on Friday evening to discuss the alarming rise in food poisoning incidents, which have claimed 22 lives, including children, since September 2024.
Story Summary:
- President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation, revealing the causes behind recent food poisoning incidents, including misuse of hazardous pesticides.
- He outlined strict interventions targeting spaza shops and informal traders to ensure food safety and compliance with health standards.
- The government pledged to improve municipal waste management and strengthen regulations on pesticide sales.
Ramaphosa addresses the nation about mass food poisoning scandal
He revealed that the misuse of highly hazardous pesticides such as Terbufos, primarily sold informally in townships, was a major contributing factor.
Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal emerged as the worst-affected provinces, with additional cases reported in Limpopo, Free State, and Mpumalanga.
In Soweto’s Naledi area, six children died last month after consuming food contaminated with Terbufos, an agricultural chemical being misused as a household pesticide.
Ramaphosa explained that investigations into spaza shops in affected areas revealed unsafe practices, including food storage alongside toxic chemicals.
The government also identified poor municipal waste management as a driver of rat infestations, which push communities to resort to unsafe pesticides.
“These tragedies remind us of the critical need for vigilance and accountability across the supply chain,” Ramaphosa said.
The interventions he announced to deal with spaza shops
To address the crisis, Ramaphosa announced a comprehensive plan consisting of immediate, medium-term, and long-term measures:
- Regulating Spaza Shops and Vendors
- All spaza shops must register with municipalities within 21 days. Unregistered or non-compliant shops will be closed.
- Integrated inspection teams will conduct door-to-door compliance checks in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, expanding nationwide.
- Pesticide Controls
- A crackdown on the illegal sale of hazardous chemicals, including thorough inspections of registered pesticide manufacturers.
- Strengthened protocols on pesticide traceability and stricter penalties for violations.
- Child Protection Initiatives
- Schools will receive updated guidelines on managing food safety.
- Public education campaigns targeting food safety and pesticide awareness will be rolled out in communities.
- Municipal Interventions
- Municipalities must improve waste management and adhere to environmental regulations to combat rat infestations.
- Non-compliance will result in sanctions, including criminal penalties.
- Support for Businesses
- A R500 million joint fund will support township and rural businesses in meeting compliance standards and improving operational safety.
“These measures,” Ramaphosa concluded, “demand collective responsibility from all South Africans, including parents, traders, and government officials, to protect our nation’s children.”
