President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a sweeping set of interventions on Friday, 15 November, aimed at curbing the escalating number of food poisoning incidents linked to spaza shops across South Africa. The drastic measures follow a series of tragic deaths, primarily affecting children, and a nationwide surge in foodborne illnesses.
The President’s address came in the wake of a devastating toll: 890 reported incidents of foodborne illnesses nationwide since September alone, with Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal bearing the brunt of the crisis. In Gauteng, over 441 food contamination incidents, allegedly linked to spaza shops, have been recorded this year, resulting in 23 fatalities – mostly children. Similar cases have been reported in Mpumalanga, the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and the Free State. These incidents range from biological contamination (poor food preparation, storage, or expiry) to chemical poisoning from illegally sold pesticides.
One particularly harrowing case involved the deaths of six children in Naledi, Soweto, in October 2024. Toxicology reports confirmed that Terbufos, a highly toxic organophosphate pesticide intended for agricultural use, was the cause. This pesticide is often illegally sold on the streets.
Following these deaths, a multi-disciplinary team comprising the South African Police Service (SAPS), health officials, environmental inspectors, Department of Agriculture officials, and representatives from the National Consumer Commission conducted inspections of 84 spaza shops in Soweto. Testing revealed that three shops had evidence of Terbufos use. "After stringent testing," Ramaphosa stated, "a chip packet found on one of the children who had died had traces of Terbufos on both the inside and the outside of the packet."
The President’s plan includes immediate action: spaza shops linked to deaths will be closed, and all spaza shops must re-register within 21 days. Those failing to meet health standards after this period will face closure. A nationwide, month-long door-to-door inspection campaign will commence in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, targeting spaza shops, tuck shops, and other informal traders to remove hazardous pesticides from circulation.
However, Ramaphosa acknowledged the challenges facing many municipalities, citing capacity constraints and limited resources to conduct thorough inspections and enforce regulations. This concern was echoed by Rasheda Muller, chairperson of the National Informal Traders Alliance of South Africa (NITASA), who expressed scepticism about the feasibility of the 21-day re-registration deadline.
"Twenty-one days? Impossible! In Soweto alone, there are over 1,000 spaza shops, the rest of the country even more. It’s not going to be easy. Many spaza shops are operating in residential areas and they are not being monitored by health inspectors. It’s going to be a huge task to eliminate what is currently the status quo" Muller stated.
Despite her reservations, Muller also expressed NITASA's willingness to collaborate with the government, stating, “We are organisations on the ground, we have many members who can assist if the government provides the necessary resources and capacitation for our leadership.”
Muller lamented the tragic loss of 23 children, highlighting that it took this devastating toll to spur government action.
The government's response extends beyond spaza shop inspections. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has gazetted a new by-law to regulate township economies, aiming to balance the rights of business owners with consumer safety and empower municipalities to set standards and support township businesses.
Further interventions include strengthening regulations on the traceability, repackaging, destruction, and sale of pesticides and foodstuffs; issuing a circular to schools on best practices for preventing and managing foodborne illnesses; reviewing and updating guidelines for school food suppliers; launching a public education programme on food safety; directing municipalities to address rat infestations; making all deaths of children under 12 notifiable; and reviewing pesticide legislation.
A R500-million joint fund, established by the Departments of Trade, Industry and Competition, and Small Business Development, will support township and rural businesses through refurbishment and non-financial support, including technical skills, regulatory compliance, and capacity building.
Concluding his address, Ramaphosa appealed for collective action: “Once again, South Africans are called upon to work together to overcome a great difficulty. But we are far from helpless. There is much we can do. Each of us needs to be better informed about the risks of pesticides and other dangerous products. Each of us needs to take responsibility for the safety and well-being of those around us, particularly the children of our nation. By working together, by enforcing the law, by being alert and responsible, we will be able to bring an end to these tragedies,” he said.
