By Johnathan Paoli
While the rate of deaths connected to contaminated food has decreased, the government has no plans on putting the brakes on its various initiatives to regulate small food handling businesses and ensure general food safety.
According Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, who announced that the government was extending the registration deadline for spaza shops to 28 February on Wednesday, authorities had learnt a lot during the last couple of months.
He was joined by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and other officials, who updated the media on measures taken to combat contaminated food, which has claimed the lives of more than 20 children and left hundreds hospitalised throughout the country.
“During this period, we have learnt valuable lessons in a short space of time, especially regarding the need for strengthened enforcement of regulation of spaza shops and other small food handling outlets.
“The government in all its spheres will continue to implement the action plan to address the crisis of food-borne illnesses and the illicit trade of goods across the country,” the minister told reporters in Pretoria.
He said multidisciplinary enforcement teams have been deployed nationwide to conduct rigorous door-to-door compliance inspections of spaza shops, warehouses, supermarkets and other food handling businesses.
Operations included the closure of non-compliant premises and the confiscation of illegal goods, with 1041 spaza shops having already been shut down.
At ports of entry, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal’s marine ports like Durban, inspections of imported food, medicines and pesticides have intensified.
In a recent operation, authorities seized 470 litres of illegal pesticides from a bonded warehouse.
To bolster these efforts, a collaborative operational plan between the SA Revenue Service, customs, the Border Management Authority and the Agriculture Department would be implemented during the festive season.
It would focus on high-risk activities and further strengthen enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.
In parallel with enforcement measures, the government is rolling out an extensive public education campaign to raise awareness about food safety.
The initiative targets school-aged children, teachers and parents, emphasising the risks of food contamination and the dangers of pesticide exposure in domestic environments.
Officials are urging civil society and business partners to amplify these messages to promote safer practices in handling and consuming food.
With the festive season in full swing and schools reopening in January, the campaign’s timing is critical to minimising public health risks.
The health minister has welcomed the decrease in fatalities, highlighting the government’s efforts as turning the crisis around.
“The rise in young fatalities has decreased. As a department we are pleased that it is going down,” Motsoaledi said.
To address the root causes of food-borne illnesses, the government has finalised the appointment of 15 health experts to the ministerial advisory committee. It will devise medium-to-long-term strategies to prevent future outbreaks and enhance food safety measures across the country.
The minister highlighted ongoing collaboration between government entities, civil society and business owners to build a safer and more equitable food ecosystem.
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