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ActionSA welcomes the announcement by COGTA Minister, Velenkosini Hlabisa, that Government is currently giving due consideration to declaring a State of Disaster in response to the ongoing deadly crisis caused by the consumption of contaminated or expired goods purchased from foreign-owned spaza shops.

Minister Hlabisa’s remarks come on the heels of a media briefing by Government’s multidisciplinary team, outlining its action plan to address foodborne illnesses. While ActionSA views this announcement as long overdue, particularly since we first called for a State of Emergency many weeks ago, it is nonetheless a crucial and welcome step. 

ActionSA urges the Government to act swiftly in finalising this process and formally declaring a State of Disaster. This decisive action is crucial for addressing the devastating impact of the ongoing crisis, enabling intensified raids on manufacturing facilities, spaza shops, and distribution networks linked to contaminated or expired goods.

Today, yet another innocent child was killed in Soweto after consuming snacks purchased from a spaza shop. ActionSA believes this heartbreaking incident is a grim addition to the ongoing devastation affecting vulnerable communities across South Africa, driven by the cowardly failure to enforce the country’s laws.

ActionSA demands stricter enforcement of South Africa’s laws and calls on the Government to stop sitting idly by while innocent lives are senselessly lost, and instead pursue every bold and proactive measure, however extreme and necessary, to put an end to this crisis.

Issued by ActionSA Parliamentary Chief Whip Lerato Ngobeni