By Simon Nare
The government has listed foodborne illnesses as a national disaster as the food contamination crisis continues to grow across the country.
Several children have died, with the latest death reported in Diepkloof in Gauteng on Wednesday. A five-year-old boy was vomiting and had diarrhea before he was taken to a local clinic where he was declared dead.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa told reporters in Pretoria that the declaration would make it easy and fast for the government to declare food-borne illnesses a national disaster if necessary.
He was speaking during a briefing by a multi-disciplinary task team comprising various ministers. It was set up to deal with the crisis.
They also announced that as part of their efforts to clamp down on the non-compliance of certain vendors, the government was implementing a R500 million fund for township and rural business owners.
Justice and
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