Chaotic scenes of looting and protest action erupted in Naledi, Soweto, following the deaths of five children after allegedly consuming snacks laced with poison on Sunday.
The recent tragedy has fuelled widespread protests and violent backlash against spaza shops reportedly run by foreign nationals, reigniting an ongoing national debate about food safety and the growing tensions surrounding migrant-owned businesses.
Monica Sebetwana, 6, Ida Maama, 7, Isago Mabote, 8, Karabo Rampou, 9, and Njabulo Msimanga, 7, tragically lost their lives on Sunday after snacking on crisps that were allegedly tainted with poison.
As the loss of these young lives resonated throughout the community, the anger and frustration reached a fever pitch just two days later with protesters, including scores of learners from Johannesburg and Soweto, marching to the Jabulani Civic Centre to deliver a memorandum of demands to the regional director’s office.
Many of the demonstrators were members of the Congress of South African Students (Cosas), who called for a halt to foreign national-operated local stores and for increased inspections of food safety measures.
“As Cosas, we have decided to march to the offices of the regional director in order to voice our concerns about the poisonous foods sold at these spaza shops. We want to see the visibility of inspectors in our communities,” declared Siphiwe Namane, a leader of the organisation.
The tragic incident comes on the heels of a similar occurrence last year when three children in the same neighbourhood died under alarming circumstances.
The recurring theme of multiple children’s deaths has intensified the scrutiny on spaza shops, particularly those operated by foreign nationals.
Namane pointed to an emerging sentiment among community members, arguing that “this economy is reserved for South African citizens”, highlighting hesitance to coexist with migrant entrepreneurs in the local market.
Police investigators are presently delving into the incident with assistance from the Gauteng Department of Health, which is awaiting a toxicology report to establish the precise cause of the children’s deaths.
During an interview with Newzroom Afrika, expert toxicologist Dr Gerhard Verdoom explained that if the snacks were laced with rat poison, symptoms would not appear immediately.
“The types of rat poisons currently available in this country can never cause immediate response or reaction,” he said.
Frustration among community members spilled into anger on Wednesday when one resident vehemently condemned the police for their perceived protection of undocumented migrants.
“Illegal foreigners are being protected by the SAPS, yet they are failing to protect us as legal citizens,” the residents lamented.
On Tuesday, acting provincial police commissioner Major-General Fred Kekana assured the public that families affected by this tragedy would be kept informed throughout the investigation, noting that no links to rat poison had been found in last year’s tragic case.
“We are not working alone as the police. Environmental health officials and the Consumer Goods Council are involved to ensure compliance and verify the exhibits’ origin. We are assessing whether they are authentic, understanding their context, and ensuring they align with legal requirements,” said Kekana.
The Star