Lesufi calls for comprehensive approach in confronting spaza food crisis

By Johnathan Paoli

The Gauteng government and municipalities have agreed on a uniform approach to address the worsening conditions of food contamination within the informal spaza shop industry.

Since the start of this year, 23 people have died and 441 people have been hospitalised due to food contamination, according to a preliminary report from the provincial health department.

Lesufi met mayors, MECs, MMCs and the SAPS on Sunday afternoon to discuss the crisis and what action needs to be taken.

“We all agreed that addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach involving stricter regulations, better enforcement of existing laws and increased public awareness about the potential dangers associated with purchasing from unregulated spaza shops and informal traders,” he told reporters following the meeting in Johannesburg.

This follows Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa gazetting the Standard Draft By-Law for Township Economies in the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act.