Foodborne illnesses in SA declared national disaster

The National Disaster Management Centre’s decision comes after a surge in food poisoning cases across the country.

At least 23 children have died from foodborne illnesses since September, with KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng especially hard hit.

Justice Minister Thembi Simelane briefed the media on Thursday and urged municipalities, businesses, and communities to adhere to food safety legislation.

"In various provinces, municipalities and metros have already started putting their teams and systems in place to ensure that the application process and compliance with food safety legislation are followed.

"We recommend the national executive, the provincial executive and the municipal council implement the multi-sectoral relief and rehabilitation plan to deal with the effect of the disaster."

Simelane also warned that law enforcement agencies would clamp down heavily on spaza shop registration extortionists who want to use this process to enrich themselves.

At the same briefing, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said investigations are continuing into how the pesticide Terbufos found its way into communities.

The organophosphate, which is meant for agricultural use, was found in the bodies of the six children who died in Naledi, Soweto, in October.

"This organophosphate is widespread in our communities,” Motsoaledi said.

"It's not only spaza shops, unfortunately. It is sold at taxi ranks, it is sold at old age pension payout points, it is sold by hawkers in the street, it is sold in the trains, so it's all over, and I don't think there will be any need to target any one area.

"The statement right here by Minister Thembi Simelane says the Department of Agriculture is going to follow up on the five manufacturers of Terbufos to see through their processes where a leak could have happened such that Terbufos gets into a community, whereas it was supposed to stay only in agriculture, in the fields.”

Simelane also reiterated the government’s warning against helping undocumented migrants register their businesses within the stipulated 21-day period.

"We are concerned about suggestions and allegations that some South Africans are assisting illegal foreign nationals to fraudulently comply with the requirements of the registration. This is clear fronting: we would like to warn everyone who is involved in these illegal activities to stop.

"The Immigration Act prohibits any person from aiding, abetting, assisting or enabling an illegal foreigner to open a license on his or her behalf to conduct any business or carry any profession or occupation. Landlords are obliged by law to ensure that those who rent their premises to conduct businesses comply with the provisions of the Immigration Act and the standard bylaws of local businesses of municipalities they operate in."

Cooperative Governance & Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa says the disaster declaration will likely be made soon following Tuesday’s classification.

“The next step now, we are in the process of doing due consideration for the declaration of a disaster. The classification helps to activate all structures and all departments to start taking action in relation to the challenge at hand. If you want to escalate the response, you go to a declaration of a disaster. It has far-reaching implications because you need to mobilise soldiers; you need to go wild if you want to go to a stage of a disaster.

"In terms of our programme, we are working towards the declaration of disaster, but we are being guided by the developments and all necessary steps that must be made before you declare a national disaster. It is in our attention, and if it has to happen, it will happen very soon."

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