Ramaphosa Orders Immediate Closure of All Spaza Shops Linked to Child Deaths

Pretoria, South Africa – In a swift response to the tragic deaths of several children linked to unsafe products sold at spaza shops, President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered the immediate closure of all spaza shops found to be distributing items connected to the deaths. The move comes after a series of investigations revealed that products sold in informal corner stores across the country, including unregulated food items, unsafe toys, and hazardous chemicals, were directly linked to the tragic fatalities.
The order was announced during an emergency meeting with South Africa’s Department of Health and Department of Trade and Industry officials, who have been investigating reports of children dying or suffering serious health complications after ingesting or coming into contact with toxic substances found in products purchased from spaza shops.
“This is an intolerable situation. The safety and wellbeing of our children must come first, and I am directing immediate action to ensure that all spaza shops selling these unsafe and illegal products are closed until they are fully investigated and deemed compliant with health and safety standards,” President Ramaphosa said in a statement released late on November 16, 2024.
The Tragic Incident that Sparked the Action
The crisis began with the death of three children in the township of Soweto after they consumed a popular snack sold at a local spaza shop. The children, aged between 5 and 9 years old, were hospitalized in critical condition after exhibiting severe symptoms of poisoning, including vomiting, abdominal pain, and dizziness. Tragically, all three children passed away within 24 hours of eating the snack.
Further investigations by health authorities revealed that the snack, which had been imported illegally from overseas, contained toxic levels of preservatives and chemicals not approved for human consumption in South Africa. It was sold at various spaza shops across the township, and, alarmingly, had been available for months without any regulatory oversight.
In the wake of the deaths, health officials began a nationwide inspection of spaza shops, discovering numerous unregulated items that posed serious health risks, from counterfeit medications and unsafe cleaning products to defective electrical goods. These products were typically sold at discounted rates and were popular in poorer neighborhoods where spaza shops often serve as the primary source of everyday goods.
Ramaphosa’s Response and Action Plan
President Ramaphosa emphasized that the government would take decisive steps to prevent such tragedies from happening again, warning that the informal retail sector’s failure to adhere to national safety standards would no longer be tolerated.
“The safety of our children is non-negotiable, and we will do whatever is necessary to ensure that the goods being sold to our communities are safe, legitimate, and properly regulated,” Ramaphosa said.
Under the new directive, authorities have been ordered to:

Immediately close all spaza shops linked to the sale of harmful or unregulated products, including those connected to the deaths.
Implement a nationwide inspection of all spaza shops, focusing on the sale of food products, toys, medications, and chemicals that could pose a risk to children’s health.
Introduce stricter penalties for spaza shop owners found to be in violation of South Africa’s consumer protection and health laws, including possible jail time for those found guilty of knowingly selling harmful products.
Roll out a public awareness campaign to educate both consumers and shop owners on the importance of compliance with safety and health standards.

Additionally, Ramaphosa called on the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) to assist with the verification of product safety and to increase monitoring of informal retailers, especially in underserved and vulnerable areas.
Spaza Shops and the Informal Economy
Spaza shops, which are small, informal convenience stores primarily operating in South Africa’s townships and rural areas, play an essential role in the country’s informal economy. They provide low-cost goods to communities that often have limited access to larger formal retailers, making them a key part of daily life for millions of South Africans.
However, the rise of spaza shops has also brought concerns about unregulated goods flooding the market. These shops, which are often not subject to the same scrutiny and oversight as larger retailers, have been linked to the sale of counterfeit products, expired goods, and substandard merchandise.
The lack of formal oversight and regulation has led to growing concerns about public safety, especially when it comes to the safety of children who often frequent these stores. While many spaza shop owners are hardworking entrepreneurs trying to serve their communities, the proliferation of unsafe goods in the market has raised alarms among consumer protection groups and health officials.
Outcry and Support for the Closure
The announcement has been met with mixed reactions. Consumer rights groups and public health advocates have praised the swift action, calling it long overdue. Many have called for even stricter regulation of the informal retail sector to ensure that products sold to vulnerable communities meet proper safety standards.
“This is a victory for our children and our communities,” said Penny Heynes, a spokesperson for the Consumer Protection Forum. “We can no longer allow spaza shops to operate unchecked, especially when their products can have such devastating consequences.”
However, some small business owners and community leaders have expressed concern that the closures could hurt the livelihoods of spaza shop owners, many of whom rely on these informal businesses as their main source of income. “We understand the need for safety, but this blanket closure could devastate small businesses that are already struggling,” said Sipho Dlamini, a spaza shop owner from Durban. “There must be a way to work with us to ensure we can sell safe products without shutting us down completely.”
While the immediate closure of spaza shops linked to child deaths is a necessary step to protect public health, the South African government will need to balance public safety with the realities of the informal economy. Ramaphosa’s administration has promised to work with spaza shop owners to help them rebuild trust by providing training and support in areas such as product sourcing, compliance with regulations, and consumer safety.
In the meantime, investigations into the deaths will continue, and authorities have vowed to hold accountable any parties involved in the importation or distribution of toxic products. As the government moves forward with its crackdown, there will be heightened scrutiny on the informal retail sector, and the future of spaza shops in South Africa may depend on the outcome of this critical safety overhaul.
Conclusion
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s order to close spaza shops linked to child deaths marks a significant step in protecting the country’s most vulnerable citizens from unsafe products. While the move has sparked debate, there is no question that ensuring the health and safety of children must remain a top priority. As South Africa’s government takes action to regulate the informal retail sector, the hope is that long-term solutions can be found that protect both public health and the livelihoods of those who depend on small businesses for their survival.