Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

2-minute read
14 November 2023 | 20:38 CAT

Image: TikTok

The community of Temba in Hammanskraal recently initiated raids of spaza shops owned by foreign nationals in the wake of the deaths of children in Soweto, Roodepoort and Bekkersdal in the West Rand, allegedly after consuming food bought from spaza shops owned by foreign nationals and street traders, the link between the illness or death of children to food from spaza shops has not yet been proven.

City of Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba told News24 that officials, including the Metro Police Department, SAPS, and the health department, supported the inspections and removed expired food items from local spaza shops.

Bokaba said the city did not conduct toxicology tests but destroyed food items that were not compliant with safety standards.

“No testing or sampling of food stuffs were conducted during the joint operations in Temba and Hammanskraal. Food was confiscated based on non-compliance that included, as an example, no labelling as well as torn and damaged packaging,” Bokaba said.

Dr Dale McKinley, research and education officer at the International Labour, Research and Information Group (ILRIG) and activist at Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia, said. At the same time, concerns about the alleged sale of expired foods were legitimate. The raids initiated by communities which often targeted foreign nationals could set a dangerous precedent and lead to xenophobic attacks, even if unintended.

“People are destroying goods they have no proof are poisonous and victimising shop owners simply because they are foreign nationals. This disturbing discourse is creating fear among the population and is xenophobic,” he warned.

Meanwhile, the government wants to introduce “omnibus by-laws” to strengthen the hand of municipalities and traditional leaders in enforcing business by-laws. It includes the inspection of spaza shops by inspection teams from labour, health, business development and home affairs.

However, this is being met with extreme concern by human rights groups.

‘If it’s only targeting spaza shops that are owned by foreign nationals, then it’s unlawful, it’s unconstitutional, and it will be challenged based on discrimination,’ says Sharon Ekambaram, head of the Refugee and Migrant Rights Programme at Lawyers for Human Rights.

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Annisa Essack and Dr Dale McKinley.