Pretoria: South Africa’s National Disaster Management Centre has, in terms of Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002, classified the recent uptick in foodborne illnesses across the country as a national disaster. This was announced by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Thembi Simelane, during a media briefing held in Pretoria on Thursday.

According to South African Government News Agency, this declaration follows a spate of foodborne illnesses that have claimed the lives of 22 individuals, including children, this year and left others hospitalized. Since September, the country has reported at least 890 incidents of foodborne illnesses. In response, the President addressed the nation regarding the government’s approach to tackling these recurring health threats.

Simelane emphasized the urgency of implementing standardized municipal by-laws aimed at regulating businesses to mitigate this issue. She highlighted that these by-laws would mandate proper waste disposal and recycling
practices, which would help reduce hazards such as rat infestations and the use of dangerous chemicals like pesticides. Several Municipal Councils have already adopted these by-laws, and others are urged to follow suit to aid compliance and save lives.

Health interventions are also a priority, with Simelane announcing the formation of a Ministerial Advisory Committee composed of health experts. The committee’s mandate is to develop medium-to-long-term strategies to prevent future cases of foodborne illnesses. Furthermore, the government plans to make the deaths of patients aged 12 and below notifiable, aiding real-time tracking of the disease burden and at-risk populations.

Addressing the shortage of environmental health inspectors, Simelane assured that the issue is being addressed urgently to ensure that all districts and metropolitan municipalities can effectively carry out necessary inspections countrywide.