SAPS To Conduct Random Raids As Gauteng Records Over 400 Food Poisoning Cases

• The Premier of Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, announced that the South African Police Service (SAPS) will conduct random spaza shop raids
• He noted that the province recorded more than 400 food poisoning cases in the previous months
• He also announced that new by-laws aimed at regulating spaza shops would be announced

Tebogo Mokwena, a dedicated Briefly News current affairs journalist, contributed coverage of international and local social issues like health, corruption, education, unemployment, labour, service delivery protests and heritage in South Africa during his seven years at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.

JOHANNESBURG — The rising number of food poisoning cases in Gauteng has prompted Premier Panyaza Lesufi to announce random raids to ensure spaza shops are compliant.

SAPS to conduct raids

Eyewitness News reported that Lesufi briefed the media on 10 November 2024 and announced that the SAPS would conduct random raids to ensure spaza shops are compliant. He said municipalities will also be mandated to enforce the new regulations.

Read also

23 children dead from eating suspected contaminated food, new by-laws introduced for spaza shops

441 Cases of food poisoning

Lesufi noted that 441 cases of food poisoning have been reported in the province in recent months. Out of these cases, 23 have passed away. He remarked that municipalities in the province are willing to adopt the by-laws. He added that the government will compel spaza shops to re-register. The raids are expected to begin on 11 November. They have been given the power to confiscate non-compliant stock.

"There's no one who is confused now, so we can arrest that situation ASAP. Twenty-three lives lost is too much, and we don't want to add to that list. That is why health and education are here. We have identified those departments as areas that need our immediate support so they can protect us," he noted.

Toxicologist warns against keeping hazardous chemicals

In a related article, Briefly News reported that a toxicologist warned against keeping hazardous chemicals at home near food items.

Read also

Joburg EMS warns residents to monitor weather before conducting rituals

This followed Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi's statement that the children who died in Naledi, Soweto, after eating food from a spaza shop, succumbed to pesticide poisoning

The toxicologist revealed that food vendors confessed to keeping pesticides such as galephirimi near the food they sell.

Source: Briefly News