The North West Provincial Legislature is appealing to communities to remain calm after receiving messages from the public “panicking about the death of children after allegedly consuming poisonous food items bought from spaza shops”.
The North West Portfolio Committee on Economic Development, Environment, Tourism, Agriculture and Rural Development, chaired by Bitsa Lenkopane, has also called on communities to remain vigilant.
The committee urged the provincial Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism and other relevant stakeholders to investigate these disturbing allegations. It urged the department to join hands with municipalities and activists to create awareness to ensure that communities understand the State’s mandate in such matters.
“We are calling on the department to do inspections and furnish the portfolio committee with a detailed report, which should indicate trader categories and their respective consumable products, which are further extended to school learners.
“These must include trader status, whether licensed or not, compliant with the business regulation act or not — which must indicate compliance with the Immigration Act 13 of 2002 about foreign-owned business,” Lenkopane said.
The committee said it has been inundated with calls from members of the community following media reports on children’s deaths after reportedly consuming poisonous food items bought from spaza shops.
Earlier this month, the Gauteng Health Department confirmed the deaths of at least five children due to suspected food poisoning. This after the children allegedly consumed poisonous food from local shops and vendors.
“While no formal and or authenticated information and evidence has been received, the portfolio committee has been receiving calls from panicking parents and community members seeking remedies to protect communities from alleged traders who sell them products containing deadly poison,” said Lenkopane.
The committee further urged officials to regularly communicate with communities through different platforms to ensure that they are accountable and responsible for all the operating businesses across the province to reduce the amount of panic.
“The portfolio committee will rely on the report from the department that should be submitted within seven days and further engage communities on the work done and/or systems in place, including communication of the database of all businesses, regulated or not.”
In addition, the committee appealed to communities to refrain from causing unnecessary unrest, and rather report incidents and provide proof to the nearest police service.
“They should also provide accurate information to any government officials who might be dealing with the situation,” said Lenkopane.
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