A 10-year-old girl from Alexandra, South Africa, died from suspected food poisoning after eating snacks from a spaza shop, sparking outrage. This incident is part of a larger trend of food poisoning cases across the country linked to spaza shops. A special task force has identified a restricted pesticide called Terbufos as the cause of six children’s deaths after consuming snacks from a spaza shop in October. Spaza shops, mostly run by migrants and worth billions, often sell expired or contaminated products and unregulated medicines. Lack of health inspectors in townships like Johannesburg and Tshwane contributes to the use of illegal substances. Government efforts to address non-compliant spaza shops and introduce new by-laws for the township economy are underway. The crisis highlights systemic failures in municipal governance and the need for equal protection for all residents. Effective regulation, elimination of rat infestations, and improved enforcement of health and safety measures are necessary to prevent further tragedies. It is time for South Africa to move beyond its apartheid legacy and prioritize the welfare of all its citizens.
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Legacy of Apartheid Economy Lingers in South Africa, Affecting Health
