Parents urged to be vigilant after tablets found in chip packets

Community members in Mnqobokazi near Mbazwana have raised grave concerns about the alleged sale of expired food and drugs by foreign national-owned shops near the Kosi Bay border.

Residents raised these serious allegations during the official opening of iSimunye Crèche in the Mnqobokazi area on Tuesday.

One of the concerned residents, Thandiwe Mkhwanazi told the authorities their main challenge is that there are no shops in the area except those owned by foreign nationals and they are cheap.

“We live in a deep rural area that is far from town. Our livelihood depends on these shops,” said Mkhwanazi.

These concerns come after Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni last week announced in Parliament the Cabinet has taken a resolution to come up with policies to restrict the increase of these spaza shops and submarkets, especially in deep rural areas under traditional councils.

Responding to these concerns, Big 5 Hlabisa Mayor Comfort Khumalo cautioned the residents and urged parents to always monitor their children when buying something from these shops.

“Some of these shops are giving us huge problems. Some children have felt sick after buying snacks from some of these shops,” he said.

“Some sell expired food, which endangers people’s lives. Some unknown tablets have been found inside chip packets. We urge parents to be more vigilant because it seems as if we are all in danger.”

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