Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
11 April 2025 | 17:20 CAT

An eight-year-old boy currently is fighting for his life in hospital after allegedly consuming contaminated snacks bought from a local spaza shop in Mapetla, Soweto. Image by: Picture: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers

A Soweto family has been left devastated after their young son fell critically ill following the consumption of snacks bought from a local spaza shop in Mapetla. The boy is currently fighting for his life at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

Tshidi Molobela, the child’s mother, recounted the harrowing ordeal. She complained her her son fell ill shortly after eating the snacks on Friday. “He started vomiting and lost mobility. We rushed him to the Soweto Clinic, and from there he was transferred to Chris Hani Baragwanath,” Molobela explained.

The City of Johannesburg’s Environmental Health Department acted swiftly, closing the spaza shop in question as part of precautionary measures.

City of Johannesburg spokesperson, Virgil James, confirmed the closure in an interview with Radio Islam International, saying authorities responded immediately once the incident was reported. “We take incidents like these very seriously because they directly affect public health,” said James.

He further explained that food safety inspections would be intensified across the area. “We want to ensure that all food sold to the public complies with health and safety standards. In this case, samples from the shop have been collected for testing,” he added.

James emphasised that the city’s environmental health inspectors would continue monitoring local spaza shops to prevent similar incidents. “Shops that fail to comply with food safety regulations will face closure, and owners could be prosecuted if negligence is found,” he warned.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about food safety in Johannesburg’s informal trading sector, where many residents rely on spaza shops for daily essentials.

As investigations continue, residents have been urged to remain vigilant about the source of food items and report any suspected unsafe practices to the city’s health department.

Meanwhile, the Molobela family is anxiously hoping for their son’s recovery, calling on authorities to hold the shop owners accountable.

“This should not happen to any child,” said a distraught Tshidi Molobela.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Virgil James here.