Issued by Ismail Joosub on behalf of the FW de Klerk Foundation on 19/11/2024

The FW de Klerk Foundation welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decisive steps to address the food safety crisis in South Africa. Following the tragic deaths of at least 22 children, the President has ordered the closure of spaza shops linked to these deaths and set a 21-day deadline for all food handling facilities to register with local municipalities. These actions are necessary to protect public health.

Christo van der Rheede, Executive Director of the FW de Klerk Foundation, said, “The Foundation acknowledges the urgency of addressing food safety issues and we believe the President’s approach is a vital step toward ensuring safer food for all South Africans.” He added, “The food safety crisis is a clear violation of South Africans’ constitutional rights to access safe food and a healthy environment, as enshrined in sections 27(1)(b) and 24 of the Constitution.”

However, the Foundation is concerned about the growing debate surrounding the nationality of spaza shop owners. “Focusing on nationality is not the solution,” said van der Rheede. “The focus should be on ensuring that all food vendors, regardless of ownership, adhere to the same safety standards. The solution lies in holding everyone accountable for meeting food safety laws.“

The Foundation also highlights the shortage of Environmental Health Practitioners (“EHPs”) as a critical challenge to enforcement. “With only 1 712 EHPs in the country—far short of the 6,203 needed—many communities, particularly in densely populated areas, remain vulnerable to unsafe food practices,” explained van der Rheede.

The President’s plan to conduct door-to-door inspections and launch public education campaigns is crucial to addressing these issues. Ismail Joosub, Manager of Constitutional Advancement at the Foundation, emphasised, “While these inspections are important, municipalities must be properly equipped to carry them out. We also need to be cautious not to allow this issue to fuel xenophobia—food safety concerns must focus on regulations, not nationality.”

The FW de Klerk Foundation calls for a united effort to strengthen food safety and protect the health of all South Africans.