Minister of COGTA visits eight-year-old boy after food poisoning incident in Soweto

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, visited the eight-year-old boy who was hospitalised in the ICU at Bara Hospital on April 11.

This comes after an alleged food poisoning incident that took place in Mapetla.

This visit underscores growing concerns about the health risks associated with unregulated food products sold in informal retail outlets.

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In response to these concerns, in November 2024, President Cyril Ramaposa issued a directive that all spaza shops and food-handling facilities must register with their respective municipalities.

“Spaza shops play a crucial role in local communities, often serving as the primary source of essential goods in underserved areas.”

“Consequently, spaza shops must be registered to ensure compliance with food safety regulations, remove hazardous products from the market, protect children, and prevent future outbreaks of foodborne illnesses.”

“The deadline for spaza shop registration was February 28,” said Hlabisa.

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He added that the government remains committed to supporting spaza shop owners, offering financial assistance and educational resources to help them meet health standards. Furthermore, the government is dedicated to ensuring that informal food retailers operate in a manner that benefits their communities while safeguarding public health.

“We are here on humanitarian grounds to stand in solidarity with this young boy and his family during this difficult time,” said Hlabisa.

“It was our sincere hope that such incidents of poisoning would never happen again.”

He stressed that tragedies of this nature demand a united front and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working collaboratively to protect vulnerable communities.

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“We are here in the spirit of the District Development Model because incidents like these require the combined efforts of all of government and all of society.”

Hlabisa also called on communities to be vigilant and proactive in safeguarding the health and well-being of children.

“Government plays a crucial role, but we also urge communities to take shared responsibility.”

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He urged communities to protect all children and work together with the government to create safer, healthier environments.

“COGTA will continue its collaboration with all stakeholders to improve the safety and regulation of food products sold in spaza shops.

These efforts are vital to protect public health and ensure that informal retail outlets operate in accordance with established health and safety guidelines.”