Presidency
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced measures requiring all spaza shops and food handling facilities to be registered within their municipalities within 21 days.
He also said that the spaza shops that were implicated in the deaths of six children in Naledi in Soweto will be closed with immediate effect.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases established that the deaths could be directly attributed to a highly hazardous chemical used as a pesticide known as Terbufos.
Terbufos is an organophosphate chemical that is registered for agricultural use and is not allowed to be sold for general household use.
Announcing the interventions on Friday night, President Ramaphosa said 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,” President Ramaphosa said.
He said integrated multidisciplinary inspection teams will undertake compliance inspections of food handling facilities, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers.
“This will include spaza shops and general dealers. Non-compliant businesses and shops linked to any poisoning incidents or found to unlawfully stock hazardous chemicals will be shut down,” President Ramaphosa said.
The President also announced a “massive campaign of door-to-door inspection of all spaza shops, tuck shops, and other informal traders” to be undertaken by an inter-disciplinary inspection team, starting in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
The initial phase of inspections will have to be completed within a month.
The Department of Agriculture was also in the process of reviewing and updating all relevant legislation regarding the regulation and authorisation of agricultural pesticides for use in South Africa.
Ramaphosa said a joint fund of R500 million will be established by the Departments of Trade, Industry and Competition and Small Business Development to support township and rural businesses, including community convenience shops.
The funding will be for the refurbishment of businesses and non-financial support in terms of technical skills, regulatory compliance, and capacity building.
Meanwhile, President Ramaphosa said a circular will be sent to Provincial Education Departments and all schools on best practice protocols for preventing and managing foodborne illnesses within schools.
“By the start of the new school year, the Department of Basic Education and School Governing Bodies, together with the Department of Health, will review and update the guidelines for schools on the management of suppliers of foodstuffs to public schools.
“This will include tuck shops operated at these schools.
“A public education campaign will be launched aimed at children, parents, caregivers, and the broader community on food safety and the identification, handling ,and storage of dangerous chemicals,” he added.
