Pretoria: The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries, Makhi Feni, has expressed support for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent directive mandating spaza shop owners to register their businesses within 21 days. This announcement comes in response to a severe public health crisis involving foodborne illnesses that have tragically resulted in the deaths of at least 22 children across South Africa.

According to South African Government News Agency, President Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Friday, outlining immediate actions to tackle the ongoing issue. These actions include the closure of spaza shops implicated in the deaths and the implementation of stricter regulations to safeguard communities. The President introduced three critical interventions to be enacted promptly: the removal of hazardous pesticides from public access, the protection of children from exposure to these harmful substances, and measures to prevent future outbreaks.

The President has emphasize
d that all spaza shops and food-handling facilities must register with their local municipalities within the stipulated 21 days. Shops failing to comply with registration and health standards will face closure. In his address, President Ramaphosa clarified that investigations did not suggest any intentional effort to poison children but stressed the importance of adhering to health and safety regulations.

Chairperson Feni acknowledged the potential for the crisis to incite xenophobic sentiments, noting incidents where shops were looted, and legitimate community protests were overtaken by criminal elements. He highlighted the concerning issue of spaza shop owners discarding what appeared to be expired food. Feni called on municipal officials to execute the President’s directive with integrity, steering clear of corruption and bribery.

Feni underscored the directive’s ultimate goal: to prevent further child fatalities caused by consuming unsafe snacks. He reiterated that enforcing these measures is not a puni
shment for foreign nationals but a necessary step to ensure officials perform their duties diligently.