South Africa has shut down 1,041 mom-and-pop stores in a bid to stop people from consuming pesticide-laden food, which has led to the deaths of 38 children across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Cyril Ramaphosa\u2019s government also extended a deadline to register the stores, known as spaza shops, to 28 February 2025 in a bid to give itself time to prepare to regulate the stores, Velenkosini Hlabisa, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said in a briefing on Wednesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The death toll from children consuming poisoned food has risen to 38 from 22 a month ago, Tebello Mosikili, police deputy national commissioner said at the same briefing. Three adults have also died. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chemicals such as Terbufos \u2014 meant for agricultural use \u2014 are often used in the stores as a pesticide to control rodent infestation in townships. Improper handling of the chemical results in the poison leaching into food items.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ramaphosa plans to strengthen regulations and protocols for tracing, repacking and selling pesticides, insecticides and food. Fifteen health experts have also been appointed to a ministerial panel, and asked to develop medium-to-long-term prevention measures to curb the incidence of food-borne illnesses in the country, Hlabisa said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There have been 890 reported incidents of food-related illness across the nation\u2019s nine provinces, Ramaphosa said on 15 November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n