S.A Education activist calls for action on outbreaks of food-borne illnesses

S.A Education activist Hendrick Makaneta says something drastic must be done to address outbreaks of food-borne illnesses that have impacted learners negatively. Suspected food poisoning cases have led to the deaths of children and numerous hospitalisations across Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Eastern Cape. Makaneta says it is important that the government ensures that spaza shops maintain food safety standards:

Meanwhile, Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, says a state of emergency may need to be declared regarding the issues around spaza shops. A ten-year-old girl died in Alexandra at the weekend, after complaining of chest pains shortly after she allegedly consumed chips from a spaza shop near her home. Last month, six children died in Soweto after sharing a packet of chips they bought from a spaza shop. Maile says they need accountability from the shop owners: