The heart-wrenching deaths of five schoolchildren in Naledi, Soweto, have stirred outrage and grief across Gauteng as political parties and community leaders unite in mourning.
After allegedly consuming poisoned snacks from a local spaza shop, the tragic incident has once again raised alarms about food safety standards and the welfare of vulnerable communities.
On Tuesday, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) expressed its deep condolences to the grieving families of the young victims, who all reportedly perished on Sunday.
The incident follows closely on the heels of the deaths of three other children in the same area under similar circumstances one year ago.
IFP Gauteng provincial chairperson, Bonginkosi Dhlamini, condemned the ongoing operation of “unscrupulous spaza shops” that continue to sell expired and unsafe food products to unsuspecting children.
“The fact that these fatalities are not the first of their kind in the community of Naledi is telling of the kind of uncaring attitude and impunity with which these shops operate,” Dhlamini stated.
He expressed alarm over the negligence shown by municipal authorities regarding health and safety inspections, emphasising that these deaths highlight a worrying trend of indifference from those tasked with protecting the community.
“For us, the death of these young children is an indictment to the responding municipal authorities who are mandated to inspect and regulate the compliance of spaza shops with the applicable health and safety regulations,” he added, calling for urgent action.
Dhlamini urged the departments of Community Safety and Environmental, and Health to ramp up inspections and crack down on those selling contaminated food.
Simultaneously, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has demanded that Gauteng’s Premier Panyaza Lesufi take immediate action, focusing on the lack of food inspections at spaza shops, which they claim puts residents’ lives at risk.
DA’s shadow MEC of education, Sergio Isa dos Santos, highlighted the heartbreak of losing four learners from Karabo Primary School and one from Khauhelo Primary School due to the consumption of possibly poisoned snacks.
“The Gauteng Provincial Government is failing in its mandate to conduct regular inspections of food items in spaza shops, leading to this tragedy,” he said, lamenting that past efforts to force the government to collaborate with municipalities on this issue have borne little fruit.
The DA reiterated its demand for a collaborative approach between the Department of Community Safety and local municipalities to safeguard the health of community members.
In response to the tragedy, various political figures, including Premier Lesufi and acting mayor Jack Sekwaila, visited the affected families.
The premier offered assurances of support, particularly for the sole survivor, who is currently in critical condition in hospital.
“We have assured the families of our support and we have requested religious leaders to offer their services,” Lesufi remarked, stressing the crucial role of the surviving child in the ongoing investigation.
The Star