South Africa Takes Urgent Action After 22 Children Die from Food Poisoning Crisis
President Ramaphosa orders the removal of dangerous pesticides and enforces stricter food safety regulations across the country.
- Contaminated food, linked to illegal pesticide use, caused the deaths of 22 children across South Africa
- President Ramaphosa orders the immediate removal of dangerous pesticides from the market
- Shops implicated in the deaths will be shut down
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has directed an immediate crackdown on hazardous pesticides following a tragic food poisoning outbreak that claimed the lives of 22 children.
On Friday, he announced the removal of dangerous pesticides from stores and markets as part of measures to prevent further incidents.
Ramaphosa revealed that 890 cases of food-borne illnesses have been reported across the country since September 2024, raising alarm nationwide. Many of the victims were exposed to contaminated food sold at spaza shops small, informal street vendors across various provinces.
The outbreak’s most devastating incident occurred in Naledi, Soweto, where six children died after purchasing snacks from local spaza shops. The youngest victim was only six years old. Investigations confirmed the children’s deaths were linked to Terbufos, a hazardous pesticide. Although this chemical is registered for agricultural use, it is being sold illegally as a “street pesticide” for controlling rats in informal settlements.
Samples taken from 84 spaza shops in the Naledi area revealed three shops with traces of Terbufos. The shops implicated in the deaths will be immediately shut down, and President Ramaphosa has given a 21-day deadline for all food vendors to register with local municipalities and comply with health standards. Failure to do so will result in their closure.
