Naledi Spaza Shop
By Karabo Marifi
Five children between the ages of six and ten tragically passed away in Naledi, Soweto, after consuming snacks purchased from a local spaza shop. The incident, which took place on Sunday, 6 October 2024, has left the community in mourning and sparked widespread calls for the tightening of regulations on these small retail outlets.
What Happened?
The children reportedly began showing symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and extreme fatigue shortly after eating the snacks. Dumisani Manisela, father of one of the victims, described the last moments of his seven-year-old daughter Zinhle Maama, who passed away shortly after being admitted to Zola Clinic. Manisela recounted how his daughter became severely ill, unable to eat or speak, before succumbing to the illness.
According to Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation, Matome Chiloane, the children attended Karabo Primary School and Khauhelo Primary School, both located within the Soweto area. Chiloane expressed his deep condolences to the affected families and confirmed that psychological support services are being offered to students, educators, and the grieving families.
Investigations Underway
The exact cause of the children’s deaths remains unconfirmed, though initial suspicions point to food poisoning. Authorities, led by Constable Vusi Thokwan and Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, have initiated inquest dockets to investigate further. Police officials have confiscated food items from the implicated spaza shop and sent them for testing to determine any contaminants or toxic substances.
As part of their inquiry, law enforcement officers have also inspected and closed down two spaza shops in the vicinity as a precautionary measure. This action was prompted by growing community concerns about the safety and quality of products sold in local spaza shops, which are often run by foreign nationals.
Community Reaction and Historical Context
Residents in Naledi have responded to this tragedy with sorrow and anger. Many have voiced their frustration regarding the prevalence of such incidents, citing a need for stricter oversight of food quality in spaza shops. In the past, similar cases have raised public outrage, particularly when expired or unregulated food products were suspected as the cause. Last year, a similar incident in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, saw three children perish after consuming expired instant porridge purchased from a local store.
Calls for tighter control over these small businesses have intensified, with community leaders demanding more rigorous checks to ensure that consumables sold to the public meet safety standards. The Department of Small Business Development’s Consumer Protection Unit has reportedly started confiscating expired or potentially harmful products from stores across Gauteng as a preventive measure to avoid further tragedies.
Official Response and Public Safety Measures
Following this devastating event, officials are now looking into enhanced regulations for spaza shops, particularly those that sell food. The Gauteng Department of Health is actively monitoring the situation and may consider introducing policies that mandate routine inspections and stringent licensing for food-selling outlets.
In the meantime, MEC Matome Chiloane has urged parents and guardians to be cautious about the products their children consume, advising them to buy only from reputable sources. Chiloane also assured the public that his department is committed to the welfare of learners, both in and outside the school environment, emphasizing the need for community cooperation in safeguarding children’s health.
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