Cabinet concerned about food poisoning of children
This follows the recent death of children after allegedly consuming poisonous food items bought from spaza shops, which were reported in Gauteng.
Cabinet has raised concern on the spate of food poisoning of children from eating expired and contaminated foodstuff from spaza shops and street vendors.
This follows the recent death of children after allegedly consuming poisonous food items bought from spaza shops, which were reported in Gauteng and North West provinces.
“Cabinet is encouraged by the law enforcement efforts to enforce food safety compliance,” Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said at a post Cabinet briefing on Monday.
Ntshavheni reported that during the recent International Migration Workshop, some of the key outcomes included the introduction of omnibus by-laws to address challenges relating to the enforcement of business by-laws by municipalities and traditional authorities.
The workshop was hosted by the Home Affairs Department and joined by the Departments of Small Business Development, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and Human Settlements, as well as traditional leaders and mayors from metropolitans and district municipalities. It focused on curbing the effects of illegal immigration, including the operations of spaza shops.
“There will be immediate joint inspections of businesses, in particular spaza shops, by the Departments of Labour, Health, Small Business Development and Home Affairs immigration inspectorate teams to enforce compliance with applicable laws,” Ntshavheni said.
The workshop also decided that an audit of spaza shops in villages and townships, and mechanisms to register them by both traditional leaders and municipalities, will be undertaken.
The Minister said there are also efforts to support traditional authorities to keep a record of foreign nationals in their communities.
“Business licensing legislation is being amended to support all those who wish to trade in the informal sector.”
