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Various spaza shops around Karabo Primary School and Khauhelo Primary School in Naledi, Soweto, do not have compliance certificates to operate and sell consumable items. Neither have they been inspected in terms of health and safety compliance.

This was discovered by the Democratic Alliance (DA) during an oversight inspection at these two schools and the spaza shops around the area following the tragic deaths of five learners after they allegedly consumed snacks from a spaza shop.

The fact that there have been no health inspections means that the City of Johannesburg (COJ) continues to fail in enforcing by-laws and keeping people safe. This neglect of our people's health and well-being is simply inexcusable.

It is devastating that young and innocent lives continue to be lost due to suspected food poisoning from items purchased at spaza shops. Two children in Naledi died suddenly in October of last year after allegedly consuming snacks from a spaza shop. Additionally, another pupil in Ekurhuleni also passed away in February 2024 after allegedly eating biscuits bought from a spaza shop in the area.

Despite the suffering these incidents have caused, the DA urges calm and the application of the law.

The DA demands that the COJ conduct regular health inspections and provide adequate resources for environmental health officials to perform their duties.

The DA has been engaging the COJ’s Regional Director and will meet with him by the end of this week to ensure regular inspections and that all legislation aimed at the health and well-being of communities is being implemented. The DA will also demand answers of what measures will be put in place to ensure that this never happens again.

A DA government would ensure collaboration between provincial and local authorities in initiating inspections of all spaza shops in the province. This would be done by ensuring compliance with the relevant Act and by-laws of the municipality. The application would be done through the City’s Trade Licence Department, and only traders with a CoJ Certificate of Acceptability (COA) from the Environmental Health Department in their possession would be eligible for permits.

The DA will continue to hold all relevant parties accountable to guarantee that spaza shops and supermarkets in our communities operate legitimately. One life lost is one too many.

Issued by Nazley Sharif MPL - DA Soweto West Constituency Head