Gauteng implements new by-laws to regulate spaza shops

The Gauteng provincial government has implemented new by-laws, which would require all spaza shops re-register to ensure that they comply with the country’s laws. This comes after 23 children died following incidents of foodborne illnesses recorded at various schools in the province.The new measures were announced by Premier Panyaza Lesufi during a media briefing in Johannesburg, after meeting with officials from across the province municipalities. “All councils across municipalities will pass the new by-laws by national department of COGTA which explain how to register a business and conduct business to ensure a uniform approach. We are going to start weekly stakeholder engagement and consultations. We are further starting the process of re-registration of spaza shops. MEC for Economic Development, Lebogang Maile and all MMCs will develop a template of reregistration of business especially businesses that were involved in illness and deaths of our children,” said Lesufi. The Premier also announced the banning of the toxic chemical organophosphate, which is found in rat poison.The chemical has been linked to some of the children’s deaths.“From the forensic laboratories, we now know what caused the majority of those deaths. The substance that has been neutralised is linked to the agricultural sector. Therefore, the MEC responsible for agriculture, MEC Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, will formulate an approach to address this substance.We have all agreed that this substance is banned in our province. It must not be found in shops or among formal traders, and law enforcement agencies will assist us in eliminating it where possible,” explained Lesufi.Lesufi said a reporting template will be developed to be used by hospitals, schools, community health care centres to ensure that we have accurate reporting in this regard. The premier, on behalf of the Gauteng Provincial Government, sent a message of condolences to the families that have lost their loved ones. “Since January this year, a total number of food contamination incidences stands at 441, and 23 deaths. The majority of the cases involve children between the ages six and ten years old. Ekurhuleni has reported the highest number of incidences, followed by West Rand.Majority of deaths were reported from Johannesburg, followed by Ekurhuleni,” said Lesufi.