Community threatens to shutdown spaza shops

Following the deaths of five learners from suspected food poisoning, some Naledi residents have issued an ultimatum to unlicensed spaza shop owners to leave by Monday or face shutdown.

Zinhle Masilela, Isago Mabote, Monica Sebetwane, Njabulo Msimango, and Karabo Rampou, all between grades 1-3, died on Sunday after experiencing severe stomach cramps, vomiting, and drowsiness. 

Their friend, 7-year-old Katleho Olifant, remains critical in hospital.

Parents claim the children fell ill after consuming “brown dash” snacks from a local spaza shop. 

At a mass memorial service on Friday, residents blamed government’s failure to regulate foreign-owned spaza shops for the young people’s deaths. 

However, spaza shop owners are denying the claims and say product suppliers, not them, are responsible for the suspected food poisoning.

Gauteng Education MEC, Matome Chiloane, is among those who attended the children’s memorial service.

He urged community members to assist the police with its investigation.

Learners from Khauhelo and Karabo primary schools paid tribute to their fallen friends, calling for an end to adult negligence.

The tragedy echoes last year’s suspected food poisoning incident, also in Naledi, which claimed the lives of two children.

It has renewed residents’ calls for stricter regulations, with families of the deceased children demanding a speedy probe into the cause of their deaths.

They say that’s the only thing that will give them closure.

Leboghang Mahole, who lost her 7-year-old daughter, says she wants to prevent similar incidents from robbing families of their children, while another parent, Charles Rampou, emphasised that every young life lost was a blow to the community’s future.