- A 3- and 4 year-old are dead because of suspected expired food
- DESTEA closing down and investigating spaza shops in the Free State
- Community is enraged because of deaths and demanding action
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The death of the two siblings in Vredefort has left the country is shock and rage after was it discovered that food sold in a local spaza shop could have led to their death.
The Consumer Protection Unit of the Department of Small Businesses is inspecting and confiscating illegal and expired goods in Vredefort following this incident.
Local spaza shops in different communities have been raided and the food labelled as expired has been thrown out. Many of the spaza shops are known to be owned by foreign nationals.
The Free State Department of Economics, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) received the shocking news of the passing of Palesa Kutoane (4) and Bohlale Kutoane (3) in Vredefort after allegedly consuming food bought from a local tuck-shop.
According to the police, evidence has been gathered and the investigation is ongoing.
Thabo Meeko, the MEC of DESTEA said he would like to extend his deepest condolences on behalf of the department.
“The safety risks associated with the consumption of illicit food is deeply concerning and we are committed to leave no stone unturned to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.”
He added that the authenticity of videos and pictures sent to his department by the local community cannot be verified.
“We have to act swiftly on allegations of illicit trade of fake goods sold to the public. The DESTEA inspection directorate will continue to work with law enforcement agencies in operations across the province to prevent the sale of illicit goods and food products.”
It has been noticed during the previous operations that products are being manufactured in unsanitary factories with fake labels depicting established brands being slapped on them.
Illicit trade poses a danger to people’s lives, and it deprives the government of crucial revenue that could have been invested in public services, it impacts efforts to attract investors to the Free State.
Patrick Kopane, chairman of ActionSA Free State, says the local government in the Free State including the police service and the health department are responsible for the recent deaths of two children in Vredefort.
“Due to lack of proper oversight no one paid attention to the loud outcries about counterfeit products being sold in informal businesses including food and medicine.”
The MEC of the Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport, MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae and the executive Mayor of Ngwathe, Victoria de Beer-Mthombeni, have visited the family of the deceased to relay their condolences.
